Institutions and frugal innovation: The case of Jugaad

Environmental strategic performance of SMEs in developing countries: perspectives of environmental strategic capabilities, environmental strategic assessment, and stakeholder engagement

The purpose of this study is to empirically evaluate the model that explains the methods involved in the transformation of environmental strategic capabilities (ESC) into environmental strategic performance (ESP) of manufacturing SMEs in developing economies such as Pakistan. This study also analyzes the role of environmental strategic assessment (ESA) as a mediator as well as the contingent impacts of stakeholder engagement (SE). To evaluate the conceptual model, a cross-sectional design was employed in this study. Data from 489 owners, production managers, finance managers, and CEOs of 133 production units dealing in agriculture equipment (31 units), auto parts (18 units), electrical equipment (25 units), gas appliances (23 units), pharmaceutical instruments (15 units), and plastic products manufacturing (21 units) was gathered to validate the moderated mediation framework. The outcomes of the study support the notion that ESC and ESP are positively correlated. Furthermore, results also support the mediation role of ESA in the association between ESC and ESP. Additionally, the moderation of SE is validated, and this construct is portrayed as a catalyst in interaction of ESC and ESP. The current study contributes to strategic management literature by concentrating on intangible assets such as ESC and its key aspects. As a result, it introduces a new framework as well as a roadmap that will support the accomplishment of ESP. Through focusing on the mediating mechanism in which ESC may well be transformed to ESP of manufacturing SMEs by ESA, the study findings significantly contributed to the understanding of environmental dynamism in contemporary management era. The findings of the study also assist in clarifying the moderating impact of SE and how its interactions with ESC and ESP strengthen the influence that enterprises have on ESA.

Nexus of digital platforms, innovation capability, and strategic alignment to enhance innovation performance in the Asia Pacific region: a dynamic capability perspective

The direct influence of digital platforms on organizational efficiency, financial performance, and strategy attracts the close attention of researchers. The complex mechanisms and pathways of digital platforms on transformation capacity, however, are still unclear at the global and Asia Pacific levels. Drawing on dynamic capability theory, we empirically explore how digital platforms augment organizational innovation performance. We advance the current literature on digital platforms by finding that digital platform capability boosts an organization’s dynamism and innovation performance. Furthermore, we extend the literature by revealing that, indirectly, innovation capability and strategic alignment have a substantial influence over digital platform capability and innovation performance. Finally, the study formulates a conceptual model from a dynamic capability perspective, rather than from a resource-based view, and test it using the responses collected from 153 Pakistani manufacturing firms.

Circular economy and frugal innovation: a conceptual nexus

Frugal innovation (FI) and circular economy (CE) are two concepts that are recently being deliberated among researchers, policymakers, businesses, governments, and international organizations. Being a nascent development, both still lack an extant body of theories and data. Undisputedly they both share commonalities in gathering tractions among scholars. But the conceptual relationship between them has been unclear and hence makes it difficult to understand how one can promote the other. The current work constructs a conceptual framework through literature, explicating nexus, characteristics, and indicators of the two concepts and then exploring this framework through case analysis and focus group discussion (FGD). The results of our findings show that the two concepts are outcome of considerations on resource constraints and/or resource optimization; promote redesigning of product and services to minimize resources while achieving core functionality; involve the participation of stakeholders; and are implemented in stages. Most importantly, they foster the three pillars of sustainable development-social equity, economic prosperity, and environmental quality. However, supportive policies and institutions are largely associated with the development of CE which is not the same for FI in most countries. We conclude that FI being mainly operational in the emerging economies could serve as a veritable enabling tool for promoting the CE concept in the developing regions of the globe but will require the support of formal institutions and policies.

Innovation through internationalization: A systematic review and research agenda

In this paper we perform a systematic literature review of the diverse and somewhat fragmented current state of research on firms’ internationalization and innovation. We analyze 207 key works from 1989 through 2020 and synthesize them into an internationalization process framework that conceptually maps key internationalization-related antecedents and moderators that influence innovation behaviors and outcomes. Through an internationalization process framework, we categorize existing relevant studies into three key stages: (a) the pre-internationalization stage, (b) the internationalization entry stage, and (c) the post-internationalization stage. Furthermore, we review how firms’ various strategic decisions and operations in different stages influence their innovations by elaborating the moderating role of external country/region institutions and firm internal characteristics. Building on this review, we provide suggestions for future research to advance the developments of this domain.

Systematic review of institutional innovation literature: towards a multi-level management model

Institutional innovation creates smart institutions that idiosyncratically thrive in a world of exponential change. Through policy-driven interventions and experiential learning, managers of institutions become adept at delivering praxis- and crisis-driven innovations required for survival and success. Similarly, the management of institutional innovation remains an interest in research due to links of this form of innovation to economic growth, and the demands of on-going major socioeconomic transformations due to technological advances, increased occurrences of major crises, and emerging socioeconomic challenges. Accordingly, a key question arising from the literature concerns the range of determinants and priorities that influence institutional innovation for delivering society value. Thus, the onus is on scholarship to capture and advance knowledge for harnessing the potency of institutional innovation. The purpose of this article is to analyse the current state of research on institutional innovation. Using the systematic review methodology, we identify and critically appraise 485 peer-reviewed scientific publications between 1969 and 2021. The review finds key determinants and management priorities with a view to developing a multi-level management model of institutional innovation. Guided by insights from the review, the article sets a research agenda for future management studies of institutional innovation.

Exploring the Research Regarding Frugal Innovation and Business Sustainability through Bibliometric Analysis

Nowadays, innovation is valued as being of utmost significance when evaluating measures of sustainable development and performance constructs. The current research develops investigations into the field of frugal innovation (FI) and how this process can contribute to business sustainability. This study performs a comprehensive evaluation of scientific production through the quantitative method of bibliometric analysis to facilitate our understanding of the current structure of studies and to highlight future research paths on FI and business sustainability. The paper maps the literature by narrowing its research topics and identifying certain patterns. Using the Web of Science database (WoS) on a sample of 2072 documents, descriptive and performance analyses were conducted. The VOSviewer software was used to perform the science mapping of the conceptual, intellectual, and social structure that provides scholars with a quantified and graphic representation of the FI and business sustainability field. The trend towards the analysis of business sustainability and consumer behaviour in the context of FI is highlighted. Annual scientific production and citation analysis reveal significant growth in international interest and scientific production, indicating an increasing line of inquiry for this topic at the start of the twenty-first century. The prominent scholars in the field are of European origin, while the highly active countries in the subject of FI and business sustainability are the USA, Germany, England, the Netherlands, and India, with major collaborations across the globe. This paper covers the limits identified by previous scholars by detailing the knowledge base and by using science mapping tools to document the structure of the literature; distinguish key journals, articles, and authors; and highlight new emerging topics of research.

Towards Sustainable Digital Innovation of SMEs from the Developing Countries in the Context of the Digital Economy and Frugal Environment

This study aims to explore the direct impact of the digital orientation, Internet of Things (IoT) and digital platforms on the sustainable digital innovation in the context of the digital economy and frugal environment. This study also investigated the mediating role of the digital platforms in these relations. The study was based on the quantitative research design and data were collected from the 397 CEOs and managing directors of Small and Medium Enterprises in Pakistan. Correlation and structural equation modeling approaches were applied for the analysis and testing of the hypotheses. Results revealed that the digital orientation, IoT and digital platform are major antecedents of the sustainable digital innovation. Results also show that the digital platforms mediate between both digital orientation-sustainable digital innovation link and IoT-sustainable digital innovation link. The rapid pace of change in the technology has forced the business organizations to think out of box and align their operational mechanism accordingly. The need for the sustainable digital innovation is a major need of the current decade for meeting the increasing demands of the society in a sustainable way. Organizations, especially SMEs, should be able to deal with these challenges and rapid technological transformations through cost effective frugal business models. The frugal innovation is an important element of sustainable digital innovation enables SMEs to reduce resources usage and waste and to enhance sustainable economic activities. In this way, they can develop and gain advantages in this highly competitive digital environment. This is the first study showing the bright harmony of the digital orientation, IoT and digital platforms for achieving the sustainable digital innovation in the rapid evolving digital economy.