Innovation Enablers for the Bottom of the Pyramid

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze the characteristics of the innovation enablers for the bottom of the pyramid in the Brazilian context. The strategy used in this research was the multiple case study conducted at three firms operating in different sectors. The results evidenced that the main external enablers of the organizations were economic stability, public policies and suppliers' quality. Among the internal enablers were the creation of knowledge and learning, and recognition of the value and necessity of innovation. From the theoretical viewpoint, the outcomes of this study advance towards identifying and understanding enablers, which – despite facilitating the development and implementation of innovations for the market at the bottom of the pyramid –, are dispersed in the literature, in that publications do not even use a unanimous nomenclature to address them. From the perspective of practitioners, the evidence from this study contribute to managers' perception of what internal and external factors can enable organizations to innovate in this market.

Keywords

• inovação
• habilitadores
• base da pirâmide
• baixa renda