Exploring the Role of Brand Cultural Identity in Business Performance: A Systematic Review and Bibliometric Analysis
Abstract
This study explores the significant role of brand cultural identity in shaping business performance through a systematic literature review (SLR) and bibliometric analysis. In the face of globalization and increasing market competition, understanding the intersection between cultural identity and brand success has become essential. By synthesizing over 2,500 articles from Scopus, the research evaluates how cultural alignment influences brand performance, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The findings emphasize that a robust and coherent brand cultural identity fosters stronger consumer loyalty, enhances employee engagement, and drives superior financial outcomes. Additionally, cultural adaptation in branding strategies proves crucial for businesses seeking to resonate with diverse audiences and expand in global markets. This paper outlines key factors such as brand values, vision, and positioning, highlighting their impact on both internal and external brand perception. Through the analysis, the study identifies gaps in the literature, suggesting future research directions, particularly in the integration of digitalization and sustainability with brand cultural identity. The research offers practical insights for brand managers and marketers to develop culturally relevant strategies that not only improve market competitiveness but also ensure long-term business sustainability.
References
[2] Coleman, D. A., de Chernatony, L., & Christodoulides, G. (2015). B2B service brand identity and brand performance: An empirical investigation in the UK’s B2B IT services sector. European Journal of Marketing, 49(7–8), 1139–1162. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJM-03-2013-0154
[3] Elikan, D., & Pigneur, Y. (2018). Foundations of a visual tool for brand identity. 26th European Conference on Information Systems: Beyond Digitization - Facets of Socio-Technical Change, ECIS 2018. Scopus. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85061335940&partnerID=40&md5=4fa0ee60c7e77d912d205f21651238f6
[4] Gisip, I. A., & Harun, A. (2015). Brand culture: Its antecedents and relationship to SME brand performance. https://www.iwnest.com/old/IJAG/2015/Special%20IPN%20Oct/1-7.pdf
[5] Jin, Z., Suh, T., & Lee, J.-Y. (2025). Omnichannel Identity Dimensions and Their Differential Impact on Customer–Brand Relationships: A Comparative Analysis of South Korean Retailers. Sustainability, 17(9), 3933. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17093933
[6] Johri, N., Raut, S. K., & Rana, S. (2024). Navigating cultural complexity in global markets: Insights and future directions from two decades of marketing literature. International Journal of System Assurance Engineering and Management, 15(12), 5405–5419. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13198-024-02520-7
[7] Joukanen, K., Niinimäki, T., & Sundell, J. (Eds.). (2018). Developing Insights on Branding in the B2B Context: Case Studies from Business Practice. Emerald Publishing Limited.
[8] Kieu, T. A., & Ho, P. H. (2018). What Really Drives Customer-Brand Relationships? Evidence from an Emerging Market: An Abstract. In N. Krey & P. Rossi (Eds.), Boundary Blurred: A Seamless Customer Experience in Virtual and Real Spaces (pp. 5–6). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-99181-8_3
[9] Kushwah, S., Shree, D., Rezaei, S., & Sagar, M. (2020). The impact of culture on consumer’s perception of brand identity: Evidences from Gulf countries. Journal of Islamic Marketing, 11(2), 488–505. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIMA-12-2017-0146
[10] Lourenco, C. E., Correa Ferreira, J., & Martins Dos Santos, V. (2024). Humanizing brands in social media: The impact of anthropomorphism on brand identification, engagement, and advocacy. Journal of Marketing Communications, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/13527266.2024.2439841
[11] Maurya, U. K., Mishra, P., Anand, S., & Kumar, N. (2015). Corporate identity, customer orientation and performance of SMEs: Exploring the linkages. IIMB Management Review, 27(3), 159–174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iimb.2015.05.001
[12] Muhonen, T., Hirvonen, S., & Laukkanen, T. (2017). SME brand identity: Its components, and performance effects. Journal of Product & Brand Management, 26(1), 52–67. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPBM-01-2016-1083
[13] Patel, I. (2021). Designing Brand-Led Cultures in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME’s) Struggling Through Midlife Crisis. In A. Chakrabarti, R. Poovaiah, P. Bokil, & V. Kant (Eds.), Design for Tomorrow—Volume 2 (Vol. 222, pp. 653–665). Springer Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0119-4_53
[14] Punjaisri, K., Evanschitzky, H., & Wilson, A. (2009). Internal branding: An enabler of employees’ brand‐supporting behaviours. Journal of Service Management, 20(2), 209–226. https://doi.org/10.1108/09564230910952780
[15] Rajagopal. (2006). Brand excellence: Measuring the impact of advertising and brand personality on buying decisions. Measuring Business Excellence, 10(3), 56–65. https://doi.org/10.1108/13683040610685793
[16] Raposo, Daniel., Silva, Fernando Moreira da., Neves, João., & Silva, José. (2017). Clarifying the Concept of Corporate Identity: From a Collective Vision to Cultural Interface (pp. 600–609). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60582-1_60
[17] Saldarriaga-Romero, V. J., Molina, Y. M., & Ceballos, H. V. (2024). Brand Performance Development: Synthesis and Research Agenda. Revista Lasallista de Investigacion, 21(1), 41–76. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.22507/rli.v21n1a3
[18] Voyer, B. G., Kastanakis, M. N., & Rhode, A. K. (2017). Co-creating stakeholder and brand identities: A cross-cultural consumer perspective. Journal of Business Research, 70, 399–410. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2016.07.010
[19] Wang, J., & Yin, J. (2020). Multi-perspective Analysis and Integration Framework Construction of Cultural Brand Value Evaluation Research Based on Grounded Theory. 568–572. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICCST50977.2020.00117
Copyright (c) 2025 Review of Applied Socio-Economic Research

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyright ©2019 Pro Global Science Association
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, transmitted or disseminated, in any form, or by any means, without prior written permission from Pro Global Science Association, to whom all requests to produce copyright material should be directed, in writing.