The loose coupling theory provides a new solution for coordinating highly dispersed organizational subunits in enterprises, and has received increasing attention from scholars in recent years. The core concept of loose coupling aims to describe the phenomenon in which subunits in a system respond to each other while retaining their respective identities, maintaining physical and logical separation. However, existing literature still has problems such as vague definition of connotations, inconsistent research conclusions, and limited application scope, greatly limiting the boundary of theoretical applications. Reviewing relevant research literature from 1973 to 2023, this paper systematically summarizes the concept connotation, antecedents, consequences, and boundary conditions of loose coupling from multiple perspectives, and proposes an integrated conceptual framework that spans organizational boundaries and levels. Meanwhile, in response to the limitations of existing research, this paper makes further prospects for future research from four directions: conceptual deconstruction, mechanism mining, dynamic evolution, and situational expansion, providing reference for further promoting the application of the loose coupling theory in the field of organization.