Introducing the Rule of Five: a Guide to the Literature Review in the Management and Social Sciences

This article proposes the Rule of Five, a practical and structured framework for organising literature reviews across conceptual, theoretical, empirical, and methodological domains. Recognizing the confusion and fragmentation often experienced by students and early-career researchers, the Rule of Five proposes five core elements that should guide the review of each component of the literature in order to improve clarity, coherence, and analytical depth in academic writing. Each component is approached systematically. For conceptual reviews, the framework emphasizes historical evolution, conceptualisation, dimensions, measurement, and relevance. The theoretical review is guided by the theory's historical background, central proposition, assumptions, relevance, and critique. Empirical literature is examined through the objective, scope, method, key findings, and critique. Methodological reviews are organized around historical background, description of the method, underlying assumptions, analytical techniques, and methodological strengths and limitations. This article serves as a practical guide for students and researchers seeking to structure their literature reviews systematically, ensuring that key dimensions of academic inquiry are addressed consistently across diverse fields of study. The Rule is intended as both a pedagogical tool and a writing aid, offering a replicable structure that enhances the quality and clarity of literature reviews across disciplines. The article concludes with practical recommendations for applying the Rule of Five in academic writing, teaching, and research supervision.