International Inclusive Innovation of Entrepreneurial Firms

Abstract

Although inclusive innovation has been regarded as a process according to prior studies, this complex process remains relatively under-researched, particularly when the process is successfully completed by entrepreneurial firms from emerging economies. This paper therefore seeks to explore, from a holistically dynamic view, how inclusive innovation process of entrepreneurial firms evolves in the “Bottom of the Pyramid” (BOP) markets. Based on the multi-dimensional details of a Chinese entrepreneurial firms conducting inclusive innovation in African BOP market, this exploratory case study suggests that inclusive innovation information management consists of three important consecutive stages: BOP market gap identification, market cultivation, and intensive market developing. We also unexpectedly reveal that the key capabilities in these three stages are distinctive.