Big Data Meets Jugaad: Cultural Innovation Strategies for Sustainable Performance in Resource-Constrained Developing Economies

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript offers an original and valuable perspective by combining Big Data Analytics Capabilities (BDAC) with Jugaad, a culturally rooted form of frugal innovation, to explain how companies in developing countries can improve their sustainable performance. The topic is timely and relevant, especially for economies with limited resources. However, to meet the standards of a top-tier journal, the paper needs stronger theoretical grounding, better context, and more robust methods.

Literature Gaps

1. The study does not connect well with other related frugal innovation ideas like 'bricolage', 'reverse innovation' or 'Gandhian innovation', which could add depth and variety to the theoretical background.

2. The relationship between BDAC and firm capabilities is treated linearly. Prior work in this domain suggests feedback loops and nonlinear dynamics. Please clarify it in the literature section.

3. The paper overlooks a key contradiction. BDAC is structured and formal, whereas Jugaad is informal and flexible. The paper does not explore or explain this part.

Suggestions for Improving the Theory Section

1. Please include a section that clearly compares formal innovation (BDAC) with informal innovation (Jugaad). Show how they might clash, complement, or strengthen each other in different business situations.
2. Bring in 'institutional voids theory' or 'innovation systems theory' to explain why Jugaad is more useful in some industries or regions than others.
3. Clarify whether Jugaad should be treated as a moderator, a mediator, or as an underlying capability that shapes how organisations learn and adapt.

Empirical Gaps

1. Most existing research on BDAC focuses on high-tech companies in developed countries. This study shifts the focus to traditional manufacturing firms in Pakistan, which is helpful, but it misses the chance to compare these findings with international cases.
2. The paper claims to validate the concept of Jugaad but does not explore whether the same results would hold true in other cultures or sectors.

Methodological Improvements

1. Report the 'confirmatory factor analysis (CFA)' or 'cross-loadings' used to validate the newly adapted Jugaad capability construct.
2. Consider multi-group analysis to test whether the strength of relationships varies across firm size, age, industry, or ownership structure.
3. Report interaction plots for moderation effects (Jugaad × EXPLRI/EXPLI → Performance) to aid interpretability.

Suggestions for Better Context and Interpretation

1. Talk about real-world limitations like low digital skills, poor infrastructure, or lack of access to data. These issues can hold back the benefits of BDAC.
2. Add organisational digital readiness or absorptive capacity as factors that might influence how well BDAC translates into innovative outcomes.
3. Strengthen the discussion by comparing the findings with similar developing economies, such as Bangladesh, Vietnam, or Sri Lanka.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The English in the paper is generally understandable but needs improvement for clarity, grammar, and academic tone. A professional language edit is recommended to enhance readability and coherence.

Author Response

Comment 1: The study does not connect well with related frugal innovation ideas like 'bricolage', 'reverse innovation' or 'Gandhian innovation', which could add depth and variety to the theoretical background.

Response 1: Thank you very much. We have added a few paragraphs as per your guidance. Please see Lines 157-216.  Furthermore, Sectoin 3.1 Line 272-325 also provides a more in-depth review. 

Comment 2: The relationship between BDAC and firm capabilities is treated linearly. Prior work in this domain suggests feedback loops and nonlinear dynamics. Please clarify it in the literature section.

Response 2: Thank you very much. We have added a few paragraphs as per your guidance. Please see Section 3.1.1, Line 281-307, also provide a more in-depth review. 3.1.1 Integrating Frugal Innovation Paradigms: Bricolage, Reverse Innovation, and Gandhian Innovation. Most of the studies on BDAC have a limitation of not being integrated with frugal innovation logics that provide a complementary view of innovation taking place .........................on of these paradigms adds value to the theoretical context and places BDAC in a wider range of innovation abilities that are efficient, low-cost, and contextually aware.
3.1.2 Beyond Linear Models: Nonlinear Dynamics and Feedback Loops
 A considerable body of extant literature linearizes and assumes the innovation capabilities-BDAC relationship to be static. Organizational learning and innovation processes are, however,.......................................by new product developments or market entries. This implies that BDAC is integrated in a non-linear, co-evolutionary loop with firm capabilities: analytics shapes innovation, and innovation results, in their turn, shape analytics. Such a ............................ abilities theory, where feedback, adaptation, and ongoing learning are critical to the enduring performance of innovation. 

Comment 3: The paper overlooks a key contradiction. BDAC is structured and formal, whereas Jugaad is informal and flexible. The paper does not explore or explain this part.

Response 3: Thank you very much.   We have added a section 3.1.3 BDAC and Jugaad: Formal and Informal Innovation Synergies, Line 308-325. BDAC and Jugaad seem to be incompatible at first sight. BDAC is an official, organized ability that has its foundation in information systems, predictive modelling, as well as data governance [215]. On the ............................... uncertainty is concerned, Jugaad provides flexibility and improvisation, which allow companies to react fast to opportunities that have not yet been grasped by data systems [217]. In the case of exploitative innovation, which is concer............................available resources and adapting the existing solutions to the new circumstances. Therefore, Jugaad is a cultural balancer that either extends or subdues the influence of BDAC as per the requirement of the situation. It is this interaction that leads to innovation ambidexterity, the balance of exploration and exploitation that firms possess through the use of both formal analytical skills and informal contextual ingenuity.

Suggestions for Improving the Theory Section

Comment 4: Please include a section that compares formal innovation (BDAC) with informal innovation (Jugaad). Show how they might clash, complement, or strengthen each other in different business situations.

Response 4: Thank you very much for your valuable input.  Please see Lines 151-187. It is also pertinent to mention here that to enrich the theoretical contribution, this study contemplates the interaction between formalized innovation through BDAC and informal, improvisational innovation via Jugaad. As BDAC embodies innovation processes that are well structured and highly data-driven r............................................... innovation. BDAC, including BD management, talent, and technology, is typically a structured, formalized, and resource-intensive processes that enable firms to collect, process, and act on large-scale data for strategic advantage [207]. These capabilities are central to fostering both exploratory and exploitative innovation, as they enable insight-driven experimentation and the optimization of existing operations.
However, in emerging market contexts, ................................................... protocols, Jugaad embodies flexible improvisation reflecting a bottom-up innovation logic that is deeply embedded in cultural practices.
In this study, Jugaad is conceptualized as a cultural moderator that shapes the relationship between BDAC and innovation ambidexterity. Rather than mediating the effect .......................................tional voids [121], firms with strong BDAC may find their impact on innovation outcomes enhanced when Jugaad capability is high, enabling local ...............................................nformal approaches like Jugaad.

Comment 5: Bring in 'institutional voids theory' or 'innovation systems theory' to explain why Jugaad is more useful in some industries or regions than others.

Response 5: Thank you very much. We have added and explained from the said perspective. Please see lines 196-217. By integrating these frugal innovation perspectives, the study offers a more pluralistic and context-sensitive view of how ......................... while also positioning Jugaad as a strategic cultural moderator that enhances or limits the outcomes of formal innovation capabilities ...........................................due to its alignment with institutional voids theory [214]. Institutional voids refer to the absence or inefficiency of formal market institutions, such as regulatory systems, ..................................... emerges as a contextually embedded innovation logic that compensates for structural gaps.
Where BDAC requires stable infrastructures and data systems, Jugaad substitutes missing institutional functions through informal networks, frugal engineering, and ............................... such as reliance on kinship ties, informal credit, or street-level knowledge systems. Therefore, Jugaad is not merely a stopgap it is a systemic response to institutional shortcomings and play.............................in underde-veloped environments [216].
This study theorizes Jugaad as an institutional workaround that reshapes the innovation pathway under resource and infrastructure constraints, thereby enhancing both exploratory and exploitative outcomes in data-scarce or institutionally weak environments.

Comment 6: Clarify whether Jugaad should be treated as a moderator, a mediator, or as an underlying capability that shapes how organisations learn and adapt.

Response 6:  Thank you very much. We have added and explained from the said perspective. Please see lines 235-243. Therefore, the moderating mechanism of Jugaad allows emerging market firms to handle the conflicting requirements ....................... operational capacity that redirects ................................juggaad serves as a crucial factor that helps organizations adopt exploratory and exploitative innovations while simultaneously enhancing their operational performance in resource-constrained emerging markets.

Empirical Gaps

Comment 1:  Most existing research on BDAC focuses on high-tech companies in developed countries. This study shifts the focus to traditional manufacturing firms in Pakistan, which is helpful, but it misses the chance to compare these findings with international cases.

Response 1: Thanlyou for your vaulable comment . A key limitation of this study is its focus on traditional manufacturing firms in a resource-constrained setting, which may limit generalizability. Future research could address this by conducting multi-group analyses comparing findings with high-tech firms in developed economies. Such comparisons would highlight how BDAC interacts with different innovation cultures—formalized versus frugal—and provide broader theoretical and practical insights. We have added it to the limitation section. Please see lines 1266-1273.

Comment 2:  The paper claims to validate the concept of Jugaad but does not explore whether the same results would hold true in other cultures or sectors.

Response 2: Thank you very much for your kind comment. We do agree, but to validate the concept of juggad and the applicability of the same results, we need to do a cross-country comparative study. We have added a limitation. Please see Line 1269-1273

Methodological Improvements

Comment 1:  Report the 'confirmatory factor analysis (CFA)' or 'cross-loadings' used to validate the newly adapted Jugaad capability construct.

Response 1: Thank you very much for your valuable input. Cross loadings are reported in Table 2. 

Comment 2. Consider multi-group analysis to test whether the strength of relationships varies across firm size, age, industry, or ownership structure

 Response 2: Thank you very much for your valuable input. We have made it part of our limitation. Line 1273-1275

Comment 3. Report interaction plots for moderation effects (Jugaad × EXPLRI/EXPLI → Performance) to aid interpretability.

Response 3: Thank you very much for your valuable input. WE have added all the significant moderation graphs   Figure 4-Figure 7

Suggestions for Better Context and Interpretation

Comment 1: Talk about real-world limitations like low digital skills, poor infrastructure, or lack of access to data. These issues can hold back the benefits of BDAC.

Response 1Thank you for your valuable comment. We have added it in the last paragraph of Section 5.2, Line 1236-1245.  Therefore, managers are encouraged to prioritize organizational data fluency, promote dual innovation pathways, and leverage culturally embedded innovation approaches like ju-gaad to convert big data investments into ...............................can build cross-functional teams to integrate the data science knowledge with the local problem-solving mentality. They could initiate training that creates awareness of informal, low-cost innovation processes in ...................can develop hybrid innovation cycles in which structured analytics is applied to scale and formalize jugaad-powered experiments.

Comment 2:  Add organisational digital readiness or absorptive capacity as factors that might influence how well BDAC translates into innovative outcomes.

Response 2: Thank you for your valuable comment. We have added it in the last paragraph of Section 6, Line 1285-1288

 

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This article explores how Big Data Analytics Capabilities (BDAC) influence explorative and exploitative innovation, which in turn drive sustainable performance in manufacturing firms in resource-constrained economies, specifically Pakistan. It focus on Jugaad as a moderating factor. Using the Resource-Based View and Dynamic Capabilities frameworks, the study tests a conceptual model with PLS-SEM on data from 418 firms, finding that BDAC enhances both innovation types and that Jugaad moderates their impact on performance dimensions.

• The references are appearing in a random order, this is confusing for the reader.
• RQs should be numbered and the reply should be underlined (also) in the conclusions.
• The research is based on several sources, but it is not clear how the Literature review was conducted.
• The Hypothesis are several and they may benefit from a visual representation.
• Paragraph 5 should be named Conclusions.
• There are some repetitions across the text such as (line 1022-1042)
• Avoid abbreviations in an academic paper (it’s -> it is [line 1050])

Author Response

Comment 1. The references are appearing in a random order, this is confusing for the reader.

Response 1: Thank you for your comments. We have thoroughly checked and ordered the references as per the journal requirement and in light of reviewer comments

Comment 2: RQs should be numbered and the reply should be underlined (also) in the conclusions.

Response 2: We are thankful to the reviewer for their valuable comment We have numbered the RQs as suggested. Please see lines 110-116

Comment 2 Part 2: The research is based on several sources, but it is not clear how the Literature review was conducted.

Response 3: Thank you for your insightful comment. We acknowledge that the methodology behind the literature review was not sufficiently explained in the original submission. In response, we have now included a clear explanation of the literature review process in the revised manuscript. 

Please see Section 3. lines 245- 270.   To ensure a solid theoretical foundation.................................ambidexterity (explorative and exploitative innovation), sustainable performance (SP), and culturally embedded innovation practices such as jugaad, particularly within the context of resource-constrained developing economies.
The literature review started by performing a thorough search of academic ....................................”; “innovation ambidexterity,”; “sustainable performance,”; “jugaad innovation,”; “Resource-Based Vie,w”; “Dynamic Capabilities,” and “developing economies.” The preliminary.................................of the core constructs of the present research model, and (3) provide empirical or theoretical contributions based on innovation, strategy, or sustainability. The studies that were not directly applicable to the context of developing economies or the ones that did ................................. and DC theories were removed. The chosen articles were consequently reviewed and grouped thematically, which enabled the determination of the critical debates, gaps as well as areas of consensus ..................................... nations, how cultural practices contribute to innovation, and the relationship between technology and indigenous capacities such as jugaad. It was upon this thematic ................................... conceptual framework and guided the formulation of our hypotheses.

Comment 3. The hypotheses are several and they may benefit from a visual representation.

Response 3: Thank you for this constructive suggestion. We agree that a visual representation of the hypotheses can enhance clarity and improve readers' understanding of the proposed relationships. Accordingly, we have added a conceptual framework diagram that visually maps out the hypothesized relationships. Please see Figure 1.

Comment 4. Paragraph 5 should be named Conclusions. Response 4: Thank you, we have reviewed it thoroughly and made changes as required.

Comment 5. There are some repetitions across the text, such as (line 1022-1042) Response 5: Thank you for your comments. We have thoroughly checked and added a few words for clarity

Comment 6. Avoid abbreviations in an academic paper (it’s -> it is [line 1050]) Response 5: Thank you for your comments. We have removed it.

 

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

1. The manuscript attempts to anchor the research in both Resource-Based View (RBV) and Dynamic Capabilities (DC) theory, but the integration of these theoretical perspectives lacks clarity and coherence. The authors need to articulate more precisely how these two theoretical lenses complement each other and jointly inform the research hypotheses. The current theoretical foundation appears fragmented rather than integrated, which undermines the conceptual rigor of the study.
2. While Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) is a valid analytical approach, the justification for selecting this method over alternative structural equation modeling techniques is not adequately explained. The authors should clarify why PLS-SEM is particularly appropriate for addressing their research questions and testing their hypotheses. The methodological choice should be aligned with the research objectives and data characteristics.
3. While the manuscript claims to extend the RBV-DC framework, the specific theoretical advancements need to be articulated more precisely. How exactly does incorporating cultural innovation capabilities enhance our understanding of the RBV-DC framework? What novel insights does this integration provide that were not available in previous research? The theoretical contribution needs to be more explicitly delineated.
4. The practical implications ("aligning data analytics strategies with local innovative cultures is vital for sustainable growth in emerging markets") are too general. More specific, actionable recommendations for practitioners would enhance the manuscript's value. How should managers in developing economies approach the integration of BDAC with local innovation practices? What specific strategies might be effective in leveraging jugaad capabilities?

Author Response

Comment 1. The manuscript attempts to anchor the research in both Resource-Based View (RBV) and Dynamic Capabilities (DC) theory, but the integration of these theoretical perspectives lacks clarity and coherence. The authors need to articulate more precisely how these two theoretical lenses complement each other and jointly inform the research hypotheses. The current theoretical foundation appears fragmented rather than integrated, which undermines the conceptual rigor of the study. Response 1: Thank you for your valuable comment. We have revised the section of theory in light of your comments and other reviewers comments. Please see section 2 starting at line 114…249

Comment 2. While Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) is a valid analytical approach, the justification for selecting this method over alternative structural equation modeling techniques is not adequately explained. The authors should clarify why PLS-SEM is particularly appropriate for addressing their research questions and testing their hypotheses. The methodological choice should be aligned with the research objectives and data characteristics. Response 2: Thank you. Please see section 3.3, lines 965-990. The data analysis was conducted using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), which was realized through SmartPLS 4. The choice of PLS-SEM instead ............................. and hypothesized structural relationships, including direct, mediated, and moderated effects (i.e., moderating effect of jugaad capability). PLS-SEM can easily deal with more complicated forms of hierarchical and interaction models and can do so even in cases where the model complexity is great compared to the sample size. Since the main aim of the present study is more of a prediction type and to contribute to the RBV--DC theoretical framework by way of inclusion of a culturally ..................................... in endogenous constructs. The final sample comprised 418 valid responses, and PLS-SEM is statistically more powerful and robust, especially when the data distribution is non-normal and the model is complex and includes a large number of indicators. ................................... constructs (e.g., dimensions of sustainable performance and the components of BDAC). PLS-SEM is more flexible in modeling such constructs. PLS-SEM does not impose the restrictive identification conditions that cannot be avoided in CB-SEM.

Comment 3.  While the manuscript claims to extend the RBV-DC framework, the specific theoretical advancements need to be articulated more precisely. How exactly does incorporating cultural innovation capabilities enhance our understanding of the RBV-DC framework? What novel insights does this integration provide that were not available in previous research? The theoretical contribution needs to be more explicitly delineated. Response 3: We are thankful to the reviewer for this valuable comment. We have reframed our study as per reviewer comment as" this study contextualizes and enriches RBV-DC by exploring how cultural innovation capabilities function as dynamic capabilities in the context of developing economies. I am again thankful to the reviewer.

Comment 4. The practical implications ("aligning data analytics strategies with local innovative cultures is vital for sustainable growth in emerging markets") are too general. More specific, actionable recommendations for practitioners would enhance the manuscript's value. How should managers in developing economies approach the integration of BDAC with local innovation practices? What specific strategies might be effective in leveraging jugaad capabilities?   Response 4: Thank you very much for your kind comment. We have appropriately added a few lines to address your comments. Please see Section 5.2, Practical Implications, Line 1236-1245. Therefore, managers are encouraged to prioritize organizational data fluency, promote dual innovation pathways, and leverage culturally embedded innovation approaches like jugaad to convert big data investments into sustainable competitive advantage. Hence, practitioners in developing economies should not embrace BDAC in isolation. Rather, they ought to combine BDAC efforts with native innovation systems such as jugaad. In particular, companies can build cross-functional teams to integrate the data science knowledge with the local problem-solving mentality. They could initiate training that creates awareness of informal, low-cost innovation processes in data teams. Last but not least, they can develop hybrid innovation cycles in which structured analytics is applied to scale and formalize jugaad-powered experiments

Reviewer 4 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Authors!

The topic of assessing low-carbon development in smart cities is consistent with the global agenda for sustainable development and technological transformation management in urban planning. The regional focus on China is logical, given its carbon neutrality initiatives.

1. However, I have a few comments on your manuscript: The introduction is overloaded with general statements about the importance of low-carbon transition and smart cities, but does not sufficiently justify what exactly is lacking in existing approaches. There is no comparative overview of indices and methodologies in other countries (e.g., the EU, the US), which limits the universality of the approach.
2. You need to clearly formulate your research questions or hypotheses. Justify why these particular methods were chosen and how they are integrated with each other (in a methodological or applied sense).
3. There is a lack of explanation as to how specific indicators are selected—are they based on international standards (UN-Habitat, ISO37120)?
4. It is impossible to reproduce the calculations without additional information (e.g., criterion weights and data normalization).
5. There is no analysis of the reasons for differences between cities (e.g., the role of investment, population density, institutional factors).

Comments on the Quality of English Language

N/a

Author Response

Comment: However, I have a few comments on your manuscript: The introduction is overloaded with general statements about the importance of low-carbon transition and smart cities, but does not sufficiently justify what exactly is lacking in existing approaches. There is no comparative overview of indices and methodologies in other countries (e.g., the EU, the US), which limits the universality of the approach.   Response: We are thankful to the reviewer for the comment. Keeping in view, we have added a paragraph. Please see Section 1, Introduction.  Line 81-90 . Although very little of the current literature on innovati........that present a structured evaluation of innovation capacities and performance indicators as well as measures of digital transformation.....policy environments. Consequently, they can hardly be applied in a resource-constrained environment such as Pakistan. That is one reso..........contextualized a model that considered native practices of innovation like jugaad to capture the realities of new markets.

Comment 1.You need to clearly formulate your research questions or hypotheses. Justify why these particular methods were chosen and how they are integrated with each other (in a methodological or applied sense). Response 1: We are thankful to reviewer for the comment. Keeping in view we have tried to justify particualr methods chosen in this study. Please see section 4 on Methodolgy. Starting at Line 894

Comment 2. There is a lack of explanation as to how specific indicators are selected—are they based on international standards (UN-Habitat, ISO37120)? Response 2: Thankyou for your commment. Most indicators are taken from academic literature such as published research manuscripts, theses etc.

Comment 3.It is impossible to reproduce the calculations without additional information (e.g., criterion weights and data normalization). Response 3: Thankyou for your commment. Data normalization/standardization is automatically being taken care of in Smart PLS 4.0. Beside

Comment 4.There is no analysis of the reasons for differences between cities (e.g., the role of investment, population density, institutional factors). Response 4: Thank you for the valuable comment. To enhance transparency and reproducibility, we have now clearly outlined the data preprocessing steps, including the use of normalization where applicable. As SmartPLS computes path coefficients and outer weights internally using its algorithm, no manual criterion weighting was applied in our analysis. We have also specified the version of SmartPLS used (e.g., SmartPLS 4.0.9) and detailed the settings for the PLS algorithm, such as the weighting scheme, maximum iterations, and stop criteria. Furthermore, the procedures for assessing the measurement model (reliability and validity) and the structural model (path coefficients, significance levels via bootstrapping, R², f²) are now comprehensively described.

Reviewer 5 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

• The study’s focus on Pakistani manufacturing firms may limit applicability to other sectors or regions, reducing its broader relevance.

• The reliance on cross-sectional data restricts causal inferences. Longitudinal data would strengthen claims about BDAC’s long-term impact on innovation and performance.

• Qualitative insights (e.g., case studies) could enrich the understanding of jugaad’s cultural nuances, which are currently underexplored despite being central to the hypothesis.

• While practical implications are noted, specific policy recommendations for governments or NGOs to foster BDAC-jugaad synergies are missing, which would enhance real-world impact.
• The hypotheses development section is repetitive and overly extended. Reducing redundancy and summarizing similar theoretical points would enhance reader engagement.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Need to revise

Author Response

Comment 1: (The study’s focus on Pakistani manufacturing firms may limit applicability to other sectors or regions, reducing its broader relevance.) Response 1: We appreciate the reviewer’s observation regarding the limited generalizability of the study due to its focus on Pakistani manufacturing firms. We acknowledge that contextual factors, such as regional economic conditions, institutional environments, and sector-specific dynamics, can influence the findings. However, we intended to provide in-depth insights into a context that has been relatively underexplored in the existing literature. Focusing on Pakistani manufacturing firms allows us to contribute context-specific knowledge that may serve as a basis for future comparative or cross-country studies. We have now explicitly acknowledged this limitation in the revised manuscript and have added a note encouraging further research in other sectors and regions to test the robustness and transferability of our findings.

Comment 2: (The reliance on cross-sectional data restricts causal inferences. Longitudinal data would strengthen claims about BDAC’s long-term impact on innovation and performance.) Response 2: We thank the reviewer for highlighting the limitation related to the use of cross-sectional data. We fully acknowledge that cross-sectional designs limit our ability to draw strong causal inferences, particularly regarding the long-term impact of Big Data Analytics Capabilities (BDAC) on innovation and firm performance. While our study provides important associative insights, we agree that a longitudinal approach would offer a more robust understanding of causal dynamics over time. Unfortunately, longitudinal data were not available during this phase of the research. However, we have now clearly stated this limitation in the revised manuscript and have suggested that future research adopt longitudinal or experimental designs to validate and extend our findings. Please see Line 1259-1263

Comment 3: (Qualitative insights (e.g., case studies) could enrich the understanding of jugaad’s cultural nuances, which are currently underexplored despite being central to the hypothesis.) Response 3: We appreciate the reviewer’s insightful comment regarding the potential value of qualitative insights, such as case studies, to deepen the cultural understanding of jugaad. We fully agree that jugaad, as a contextually rooted and culturally nuanced concept may not be fully captured through quantitative measures alone. While our current study employs a quantitative approach to examine the role of jugaad in the relationship between BDAC, innovation, and performance, we recognize that qualitative methods could provide complementary depth, especially in capturing the informal, improvisational nature of jugaad practices. We have now acknowledged this point in the revised manuscript and suggested future research incorporate case-based or ethnographic methods to explore the cultural and operational dimensions of jugaad more holistically.  Please see Line 1285.

Comment 4: (While practical implications are noted, specific policy recommendations for governments or NGOs to foster BDAC-jugaad synergies are missing, which would enhance real-world impact. Response 4: We thank the reviewer for this valuable suggestion. We agree that including specific policy recommendations would enhance the practical relevance of our findings, particularly in terms of how governments, NGOs, or industry bodies can support the development of BDAC-jugaad synergies.   In response, we have expanded the "Practical Implications" section see Section No 5.2 . Line numbr...1223-1257

Comment 5: The hypotheses development section is repetitive and overly extended. Reducing redundancy and summarizing similar theoretical points would enhance reader engagement.   Response 5 : Thankyou very much  for valuable comment. We have revisited the entire manuscript and reduced redundancy if any. Furthermore, we have also tried to summarize simiale theoratical concepts.

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Most of the suggestions have been reasonably acknowledged and addressed in the revised manuscript. The authors have made meaningful theoretical and empirical improvements, especially in clarifying constructs, moderating effects, and contextual explanations.

One area that remains partially addressed is the suggestion to conduct a multi-group analysis. While the authors have noted this as a limitation, a simple comparison between subgroups (small vs. large firms or across different industry types) could still be made using the existing dataset. Even a basic check of whether key relationships vary across these groups, through path coefficient comparisons or subgroup correlations, would add practical value and enhance the robustness of the findings. It doesn't have to be very complicated at this point, but doing this would make your results stronger and show that you have tested the model's relevance across different kinds of businesses.

Version 2 reflects substantial and constructive revision, and with minor additional effort in this area, the manuscript could be considered for publication.

Author Response

Comments and Suggestions for Authors: Most of the suggestions have been reasonably acknowledged and addressed in the revised manuscript. The authors have made meaningful theoretical and empirical improvements, especially in clarifying constructs, moderating effects, and contextual explanations.

Answer: We are highly thankful to the reviewer for his kind suggestions. It has helped us in improving the manuscript.

Comments and Suggestions for Authors: One area that remains partially addressed is the suggestion to conduct a multi-group analysis. While the authors have noted this as a limitation, a simple comparison between subgroups (small vs. large firms or across different industry types) could still be made using the existing dataset. Even a basic check of whether key relationships vary across these groups, through path coefficient comparisons or subgroup correlations, would add practical value and enhance the robustness of the findings. It doesn't have to be very complicated at this point, but doing this would make your results stronger and show that you have tested the model's relevance across different kinds of businesses.

Answer: As per your advice, we have performed MGA and found some interesting findings. Thank you very much for your direction. Please see

Section 3.6 Multi-Group Analysis (Firm Size)   Line 1069-1096.  

Also see Discussion Section lines 1233-1245

 

 

Comments and Suggestions for Authors: Version 2 reflects substantial and constructive revision, and with minor additional effort in this area, the manuscript could be considered for publication.

Answer: Thank you for your encouraging remarks. 

 

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Thanks for addressing all the comments

Author Response

Comments and Suggestions for Authors: Thanks for addressing all the comments  

Answer: We thank the reviewer for his valuable inputs, which have helped us in improving our manuscript. We are highly grateful.

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

I have no more comments.

Author Response

Comments and Suggestions for Authors: I have no more comments.  

Answer: Thank you very much for your valuable time and input. 

Reviewer 4 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear authors!

You have done a great job. Now the manuscript can be recommended for publication.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

N/a

Author Response

Comment 1:   You have done a great job. Now the manuscript can be recommended for publication.

Answer 1     We are highly thankful to the reviewer for reviewing our manuscript. The comments and suggestions provided by you have helped us in improving this manuscript. We again thank you for your time and valuable input