Open research questions in Innovation and Socioeconomic Development
244 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 1,593 Innovation and Socioeconomic Development papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.
What the literature leaves open
Significant gaps remain in integrating key factors such as leadership, innovation, collaboration, good governance, and capacity building to achieve MSME empowerment. The existing literature tends to explore these dimensions in isolation, lacking a comprehensive understanding of their interconnections and collective impact on tourism development. Limited empirical evidence on how technological advancements specifically strengthen governance practices, increase transparency, and improve service quality in tourism villages.
A Comprehensive Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Empowerment Model for Developing Sustainable Tourism Villages in Rural Communities: A Perspective · 2025 · DOIIdentifying the key issues and research gaps in sustainable entrepreneurship education. Synthesizing existing knowledge related to the research problem. Providing insights for future research and education in sustainable entrepreneurship.
Future research directions are underscored, - Research on sustainable development is growing, - The importance of entrepreneurship in addressing social, environmental, and economic hurdles is central to achieving the SDGs
There is a general gap in the current literature in the field of sustainability-oriented innovation. The paper identifies a lack of understanding of the conditions under which sustainability-oriented business model innovation can translate into business model migration. The study highlights the need for more research on rural health entrepreneurship and its contribution to sustainable development.
small sample, - lack of support from the state for the development of this type of entrepreneurship, - hard-to-find sources of financing
This dual perspective contributes to entrepreneurship scholarship by bridging entrepreneurial practice and consumer behavior in an under-researched African context.
The 21st–century business landscape of consumers and entrepreneurs: a South African luxury market · 2026 · DOIBarriers include unfamiliarity with export documentation, limited knowledge of international taxation, high cross-border logistics costs, restricted access to international payment gateways, shortage of working capital, and limited digital marketing expertise for foreign audiences.
From Local Seller to Global Customer – What Prevents Indian Micro-Brands from Going International? · 2026 · DOIYet, there is still no consensus for the term’s precise interpretation, dimensions, and idiosyncratic features.
The Business Model Conundrum: A Systematic Theme-Centric Literature Review and Future Research Directions · 2025 · DOIThe purpose is to address gaps in understanding how leadership, innovation, governance, collaboration, capacity building, and technology contribute to empowering MSMEs and achieving sustainability in rural tourism contexts.
A Comprehensive Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Empowerment Model for Developing Sustainable Tourism Villages in Rural Communities: A Perspective · 2025 · DOIBy targeting the under researched interuction of GSCM, competition, and sustainability within the restaurant industry of a developing economy, this research fills a critical gap in the literature.
Green supply chain management and sustainable performance of Tanzanian restaurants: the moderating role of competitor pressure · 2025 · DOINonetheless, this approach has not yet been systematically evaluated in the context of ASF control, which represents a notable research gap in the Philippines.
Its financial implication is not limited to the Philippines, with Vietnam spending 89.
This research contributes to filling the existing gap in the literature by providing empirical evidence on the integration of STARA capabilities with GHRM and GSCM practices, specifically within the context of the Bangladeshi manufacturing sector.
Fostering sustainability through technological brilliance: a study on the nexus of organizational STARA capability, GHRM, GSCM, and sustainable performance · 2024 · DOIHowever, many areas in robotics applications remain underexplored, indicating a need for further research to bridge existing gaps.
Robotics technology: catalyst for sustainable development—impact on innovation, healthcare, inequality, and economic growth · 2024 · DOIFuture research should focus on expanding robotics applications, particularly for underexplored areas such as SDG 8, to fully utilise their potential for sustainable development.
Robotics technology: catalyst for sustainable development—impact on innovation, healthcare, inequality, and economic growth · 2024 · DOIHowever, the specific impact of bricolage on SMEs’ resilience and the factors influencing this relationship are not fully understood.
A contingent value of bricolage strategy on SMEs’ organizational resilience: lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic · 2024 · DOIAlthough the importance of DCs in promoting organizational resilience is well recognized, academic research on their specific contributions to business model innovation (BMI) and SME performance improvement during crises remains scarce.
How dynamic capabilities enable Chinese SMEs to survive and thrive during COVID-19: Exploring the mediating role of business model innovation · 2024 · DOIThe effect of AI for improving the economic performance is not equal within the firm and sectors. Challenges such as the negative impacts of AI readiness on performance highlight the need for targeted support for SMEs.
Research on the Integration and Innovation Path of Artificial Intelligence and the Real Economy · 2026 · DOIThe impact of AI integration on economic performance is not well understood. The roles of frugal innovation and business model innovation as mediators are not well explored.
Research on the Integration and Innovation Path of Artificial Intelligence and the Real Economy · 2026 · DOILow public awareness of JAKs, particularly in rural and semi-urban regions. Inadequate footfall at many JAK centers. The need to redefine JAK outreach strategies by leveraging policy reforms and emerging technologies.
Jan Aushadhi Kendra and Community Health Outreach: A Sustainable Business Model Perspective · 2026 · DOIFuture empirical research should examine the differential impact of various awareness strategies across demographic and geographic segments. The study of JAK awareness strategies can inform evidence-based policy design.
Jan Aushadhi Kendra and Community Health Outreach: A Sustainable Business Model Perspective · 2026 · DOIThe literature creates a gap in understanding the factors that lead to effective market entry for new products. There is a need for localized empirical evidence on consumer-driven barriers to market entry in Tanzania's garment sector.
Challenges of New Product Entry into the Market in Tanzania: A Case of the Garment Sector in Mbeya · 2026 · DOIRecommendation to Marketers Overall, the study concludes that successful new product entry in the garment sector in Mbeya requires a holistic market strategy that integrates product efficiency, competitive pricing, and consumer awareness. Without addressing these interconnected factors, new entrants are likely to face low adoption rates, short product life cycles, and eventual market exit. distribution design, accessible consistently To enhance the success of new garment product entry in competitive, price-sensitive markets such as Mbeya, marketers should adopt an evidencebased, consumer-centric strategy that aligns with the key adoption determinants identified in this study. Specifically, firms should prioritise design innovation and product availability, as these were found to be the most statistically significant predictors of consumer decision-making, ensuring that garments reflect current fashion trends while remaining through efficient distribution channels. In addition, marketers must implement value-based pricing strategies affordability with perceived quality to compete effectively with lowcost imports, particularly second-hand garments. The findings further underscore the importance of reducing information asymmetry by providing clear product descriptions, maintaining consistent strengthening quality communication through both traditional and digital channels. Leveraging social media marketing and customer engagement platforms can significantly enhance brand visibility and accelerate the market diffusion of new products. that balance standards, and The success of new garment product entries in Mbeya depends not merely on production capacity but also on firms' ability to align their indicate findings To enhance the success of new garment product entry in competitive markets such as Mbeya, marketers should adopt an integrated marketdriven strategy grounded in consumer behaviour that insights. Empirical style/design and product availability are the most significant predictors of adoption; thus, firms must prioritise design innovation aligned with trends and ensure efficient current fashion distribution systems that guarantee product accessibility. Additionally, pricing strategies should strike a balance between affordability and perceived value low-cost imports, particularly second-hand garments, effectively. The study further highlights the importance of reducing information asymmetry through clear product descriptions, consistent quality transparent communication, thereby strengthening consumer trust. Leveraging digital marketing platforms and enhancing customer experience management are also critical for improving brand visibility, engagement, and repeat purchase behaviour. to compete with standards, and customer experience, Moreover, firms should pursue a differentiation strategy by positioning locally produced garments as reliable, stylish, and contextually relevant alternatives rather than competing solely on price. This requires strengthening brand trust through consistent after-sales service, and transparent business practices, which are essential for building long-term customer loyalty.
Challenges of New Product Entry into the Market in Tanzania: A Case of the Garment Sector in Mbeya · 2026 · DOIFuture research can build on the study's findings to develop more effective marketing strategies for affordable products. The study's results can inform the design of future affordable products.
The study identifies a gap in the understanding of the reasons behind the failure of the Tata Nano. The paper highlights the need for a comprehensive analysis of the technical compromises, safety concerns, and marketing strategy that contributed to the failure.
Most-cited papers in Innovation and Socioeconomic Development
- Building Sustainable Hybrid Organizations: The Case of Commercial Microfinance Organizations · Academy of Management Journal · 2010 · 2,306 citations
- Building Social Business Models: Lessons from the Grameen Experience · Long Range Planning · 2010 · 1,005 citations
- Integrating Models of Diffusion of Innovations: A Conceptual Framework · Annual Review of Sociology · 2002 · 843 citations
- Social entrepreneurship: Creating new business models to serve the poor · Business Horizons · 2004 · 836 citations
- Social innovation: Moving the field forward. A conceptual framework · Technological Forecasting and Social Change · 2013 · 783 citations
- Diffusion of preventive innovations · Addictive Behaviors · 2002 · 737 citations
- Smallholder market participation: Concepts and evidence from eastern and southern Africa · Food Policy · 2008 · 733 citations
- Theoretical foundations of emerging economy business research · Journal of International Business Studies · 2015 · 725 citations
- Innovation for Inclusive Growth: Towards a Theoretical Framework and a Research Agenda · Journal of Management Studies · 2012 · 696 citations
- The Mirage of Marketing to the Bottom of the Pyramid: How the Private Sector Can Help Alleviate Poverty · California Management Review · 2007 · 620 citations
Most recent work
- Driving frugal and business model innovation: How different organizational capabilities contribute to business competitiveness · Technology in Society · 2026
- How inclusive leadership sparks service innovation: an uncertainty reduction perspective · Service Industries Journal · 2026
- Triggers of sustainable business model innovation in technology-based startups: An empirical investigation · Journal of Innovation & Knowledge · 2026
- Cultivating outside-out open innovation: How a corporate accelerator orchestrates its ecosystem · Technological Forecasting and Social Change · 2026
- Artificial intelligence in the informal economy: game changer for microentrepreneurs? · International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research · 2026
- India’s Innovation Ecosystem: An Analysis of Startup Funding, Deeptech Growth, and Women-Led Capital Formation · International Journal of Emerging Research in Science Engineering and Management · 2026
- The Interestingness Value of Including African Stories in Marketing and Public Policy Research · Journal of Public Policy & Marketing · 2026
- Navigating technology adoption in small businesses operating in a South African township · Journal of Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues · 2026
- ESG and resource acquisition in Chinese startups: The role of financing strategies and resource constraints · Technological Forecasting and Social Change · 2026
- Divergent effects of innovation on income inequality: An input-based approach · Technology in Society · 2026
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