Frugal innovation for supply chain sustainability in SMEs: multi-method research design

Abstract

In this study we attempt to establish the missing links between supply chain sustainability and frugal innovation. Our study motivations stem from two facets of the emerging markets: firstly, the institutional barriers and secondly, the resource constraints. We argue that there is a synergy in the concepts of frugal innovation and sustainability in supply chains and there is a need to further explore this synergy. Furthermore, we claim that even in the wake of many success stories in the frugal innovative supply chain management practices from emerging markets such as India, there are very few, if any, attempts made to understand the implications of a sustainability oriented frugal innovations in the particular context. To address this gap we develop a model to establish the linkage between sustainable supply chains and frugal innovations. Our proposed conceptual framework depicts the hierarchy and interlinks of the identified enablers in developing sustainability oriented frugal innovative capabilities in supply chains. Furthermore, we have empirically validated our theoretical framework using survey data. We observed that most of the interpretive links are supported. These findings extend the understanding of frugal innovation for supply chain sustainability using multi-method research design, while also providing theoretically guidance to managers in the development of frugal innovation capability to achieve sustainability in supply chain in resource constrained environment.

Frugal Processes: An Empirical Investigation Into the Operations of Resource-Constrained Firms

“…2). Recent articles study new business models (for example, [36], [43], [66], and [89]) or supply chains [74]. Articles subscribing to this viewpoint study how severe resource constraints impact all the processes related to the design and dissemination of frugal products, but also focus on the processes as the innovation in itself (see Fig.…”

“…For example, building on the understanding of Radjou and Prabhu [94], Hossain et al [35 p. 133] defined frugal innovation as a "resource scarce solution (i.e., product, service, process, or business model) that is designed and implemented despite financial, technological, material, or other resource constraints [ …]." A notable example for frugal innovation of a nontechnological nature is the supply chain of the Dabbawalas' lunch-box deliveries in Mumbai, India [74]. The Dabbawalas pick up personalized lunchboxes from the homes of their customers, deliver them to their respective office across the city, and then return the empty lunch box back to their individual homes.…”

"Factors affecting the nature of alliance governance and competitiveness "

“…An ISM interprets the links between the identified elements and the direction of the links between each pair of elements. ISM helps in identifying the contextual relationship between the identified elements of the issues and shows how the elements are related to each other (Sushil, 2017b;Shibin et al, 2018). However, ISM is not competent to explain the interpretation of the related links.…”

The inherent tensions within sustainable supply chains: a case study from Bangladesh

“…This leads to price and profit manipulation by influential stakeholders, emphasising the inability of the existing market mechanism to effectively coordinate supply and demand (Fahimnia et al, 2015;Jabbour et al 2017;Zhu et al, 2012). In this context, a multitude of supply chain complexities are in play that exacerbate the potential for successful outcomes (Kannan et al 2014;Dubey et al, 2015;Jabbour et al 2016;Fahimnia et al, 2015;Dubey et al 2017a,b;Shibin et al 2018;Zhu et al, 2012;Seles et al 2016). Studies have highlighted a number of factors associated with the emergency distribution and logistics management through established supply chain networks.…”