Technological capability building in MNE-Related social businesses of less developed countries: the experience of Grameen-Danone foods in Bangladesh

Peerally J.A. and Paulo Figueiredo ()

No 2013-036, MERIT Working Papers from United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT)

Abstract: Although there has been considerable research on firm-level technological capability building in the context of developing economies, there is a scarcity of studies which examine this issue in multinational enterprises socially motivated businesses located in less developed economies.This paper examines the latterissue on the basis of first-hand empirical evidence derived from an extensive field research on Grameen-Danone Foods Limited GDFL in Bangladesh. The study found that GDFL generated relevant spillovers to the host economy by accumulating production capabilities in association with innovation capabilities at intermediate levels across four technological functions project management, process and production organization, product centred and equipment-related. Apart from revealing the types of frugal and reverse innovationswhich emanates from such a business, our study also explores unlike existing studies which only focus on the financial and social benefits the technological benefits generated from a social business model. Understanding the nature and dynamics of technological activities in social businesses of less developed economies is relevant for the achievement of enhanced local, autonomous and sustainable economic and social development.

Keywords: International Business Administration; Management of Technological Innovation and R&D; Agricultural R&D; Agricultural Technology; Biofuels; Agricultural Extension Services; Agricultural Policy; Food Policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: M16 O32 Q16 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cse and nep-cwa
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:unm:unumer:2013036

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