Abstract:

Purpose: A new point of view in the study of impact is introduced.

Design/methodology/approach: Using fundamental theorems in real analysis we study the convergence of well-known impact measures.

Findings: We show that pointwise convergence is maintained by all well-known impact bundles (such as the h-, g-, and R-bundle) and that the µ-bundle even maintains uniform convergence. Based on these results, a classification of impact bundles is given.

Research limitations: As for all impact studies, it is just impossible to study all measures in depth.

Practical implications: It is proposed to include convergence properties in the study of impact measures.

Originality/value: This article is the first to present a bundle classification based on convergence properties of impact bundles.

Key words: Pointwise and uniform convergence of impact measures and bundles, Second Dini theorem, Arzelà's theorem, Bundle classification, Generalized h- and g-indices, percentiles