Purpose

This study aims to examine the process of frugal innovation (FI) in micro- and small-enterprises (MSEs) at the base of the pyramid (BOP) through the analytical lens of business models.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study was conducted with 30 MSEs from three different industries in a very poor region in Brazil.

Findings

The findings indicate that, in cases where FI is intense and dynamic, the start of the FI process is based on the reinterpretation of fashion trends and influences from the business ecosystem while the consolidation of FI in MSEs occurs through the reconfiguration of resources. Additionally, this study shows that FI depends on conditions other than the production of frugal products for BOP consumers.

Research limitations/implications

This study points out that the presence of end-of-life non-BOP raw materials distributed by large distributors in the case of fashion products, along with the interaction between MSEs at the BOP and these distributors, trigger FI and are profitable for both. For non-fashion products with long life cycles, there is no demand for innovation.

Originality/value

This study addresses the research void present in the literature on FI by presenting the process of FI and the conditions that leverage or stagnate FI in MSEs at the BOP, as well as how business models are shaped by these conditions.

中文翻译：

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在干燥的土壤中发芽：考察金字塔底部微型和小型企业的节俭创新过程

目的

本研究旨在通过商业模式的分析镜头，研究金字塔底部 (BOP) 的微型和小型企业 (MSE) 的节俭创新 (FI) 过程。

设计/方法/方法

在巴西一个非常贫困的地区，对来自三个不同行业的 30 家 MSE 进行了案例研究。

发现

研究结果表明，在 FI 密集且充满活力的情况下，FI 流程的开始是基于对时尚趋势的重新解释和商业生态系统的影响，而 FI 在 MSE 中的整合是通过资源的重新配置来实现的。此外，这项研究表明，FI 依赖于为 BOP 消费者生产节俭产品以外的条件。

研究限制/影响

本研究指出，大型分销商在时尚产品中分销的报废非 BOP 原材料的存在，以及 BOP 的 MSE 与这些分销商之间的互动，触发了 FI，并且对双方都有利可图。对于生命周期长的非时尚产品，没有创新的需求。

原创性/价值

本研究通过介绍 FI 的过程以及在 BOP 的 MSE 中利用或停滞 FI 的条件，以及这些条件如何塑造商业模式，解决了 FI 文献中存在的研究空白。