Applying Enterprises’ Frugal Innovation in Ecologically Vulnerable Areas: A Fuzzy-Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis of the Influence Paths

Abstract

Frugal innovation has become popular in ecologically vulnerable areas in the past decade, as it was initiated under a resource-constrained innovation paradigm. However, there has been limited research on its influence factors and fundamental operating mechanisms in such areas. This paper aims to address this gap by using qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) to analyze unique datasets from three ecologically vulnerable areas in China. Based on the theory of planned behavior, the study identifies three key influence factors in frugal innovation: behavioral attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavior control. The relationships among these factors and pathways are also described. The study’s findings suggest: (1) frugal innovation is an integrated product of multiple influence factors and pathways, where the same goal can be achieved through different pathways; (2) Three pathways for conducting high-level frugal innovation are identified: attitude-oriented, norm-oriented, and attitude-norm-oriented pathways. Behavioral attitudes and subjective norms are the two dominant factors that influence enterprises to carry out frugal innovation. (3) Perceived behavior control does not play a leading role in frugal innovation as the resource-constrained environment in ecologically vulnerable areas and the characteristics of enterprises heavily influence frugal innovation. (4) The lack of behavioral attitudes and subjective norms are the main causes leading to the low-level frugal innovation of enterprises. In conclusion, this study systematically investigates the different influence factors and pathways of frugal innovation in ecologically vulnerable areas. The findings enrich the frugal theory and promote the effective development strategy of innovation for enterprises in such areas.