Title: A blueprint for crafting innovation in emerging economies

Authors: Zareen Husain Farooq; Osama Al Kwifi; Saheim Khalaf Al-Temimi; Yasir Yasin Fadol

Addresses: Department of Business Administration, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India ' Department of Management and Marketing, College of Business and Economics, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar ' Director of Academic Bridge Program, Qatar Foundation, P.O. Box 24404, Doha, Qatar ' Department of Management and Marketing, College of Business and Economics, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar

Abstract: The major objective of this research is to understand the variables that act as catalysts for innovation in large manufacturing organisations in an emerging economy. The interpretive structural model (ISM) methodology is adopted to propose a hierarchical relationship model, and impact matrix cross-reference multiplication applied to a classification (MICMAC) analysis is used to understand the relative importance of the catalysts. The ISM shows that a group of catalysts at the base of the ISM (e.g., leadership support for innovation) have high driving power and low dependence, which is strategically important and requires maximum attention, while another group of variables at the top of the ISM (e.g., disruptive innovation and incremental innovation) have high dependence and are the resultant actions. This study provides explicit directions for managers to generate innovation and improve organisational performance and is expected to support future research on innovation.

Keywords: disruptive innovation; incremental innovation; interpretive structural modelling; emerging economy; Qatar; manufacturing.

DOI: 10.1504/JGBA.2025.151762

Journal for Global Business Advancement, 2025 Vol.17 No.4, pp.413 - 436

Received: 16 Dec 2023
Accepted: 04 Apr 2024
Published online: 18 Feb 2026 *

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