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Showing papers on "Frugal innovation published in 2015"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, different types of resource-constrained innovation-cost, good-enough, frugal, and reverse innovation-conceptualizes the distinctions between them, and discusses the implications for strategy providing a framework for managers to systematically analyze their own approaches to resource-consistency innovation and craft proper development processes.
Abstract: Product and service innovations aimed at resource-constrained customers in emerging markets have recently attracted much research and management attention. Despite the prominence of this topic, however, there are some misconceptions around the different innovation types in this domain that may limit managers' ability to derive informed implications for strategy and operations. This article analyzes the different types of resource-constrained innovation-cost, good-enough, frugal, and reverse innovation-conceptualizes the distinctions between them, and discusses the implications for strategy providing a framework for managers to systematically analyze their own approaches to resource-constrained innovation and craft proper development processes. By highlighting the differences between the various types of resourceconstrained innovation, this article also provides the conceptual grounds for further systematic research.

176 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors identify four main diffusion patterns of frugal innovations: local diffusion, proximity diffusion, distance diffusion, and global diffusion, which are defined as products or services that are affordable, easy-to-use, and innovated under conditions of resource scarcity.
Abstract: This paper explores diffusion patterns of frugal innovations. Frugal innovation refers to products or services that are affordable, easy-to-use, and innovated under conditions of resource scarcity. When such innovations migrate from resource-scarce contexts to developed countries they are termed reverse innovation. The diffusion of frugal innovation is, however, uncharted territory. While practitioners show growing interest in scaling up frugal innovations, scholars have dedicated limited attention to their diffusion. Exploring four purposefully selected cases, we identify four main diffusion patterns of frugal innovations. We label these diffusion patterns local diffusion, proximity diffusion, distance diffusion, and global diffusion. Local diffusion refers to a frugal innovation that diffuses within its country of origin. Proximity diffusion indicates a frugal innovation that diffuses to neighbouring and nearby countries along with its country of origin. Distance diffusion is a frugal innovation that diffuses in distant countries, in addition to its country of origin. Both proximity diffusion and distance diffusion take place predominantly where the socio-economic environment is similar in diffusion countries. In rare cases, frugal innovation can diffuse globally, including into developed markets. This study ushers scholars into an emerging research domain and provides new insights for practitioners keen on scaling up frugal innovations.

102 citations



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors evaluate the sustainability of four frugal innovations from water and energy sectors and conclude that despite indisputable similarities between frugality and sustainability, it is problematic to equate the two conceptually.
Abstract: Frugal innovations are often associated with sustainable development. These connections, however, are based on anecdotal assumptions rather than empirical evidence. This article evaluates the sustainability of four frugal innovations from water and energy sectors. For the purposes of the evaluation, a set of indicators was developed. Indicators are drawn from sustainable development goals by the United Nations and they encompass central dimensions of sustainability: ecological, social and economic. In this article, frugal innovations are compared to solutions that are currently used in similar low-income contexts. Studied frugal innovations were found more sustainable in terms of energy production and water purification capacity than the existing solutions. In terms of social sustainability, larger differences between innovations were found. For example, business models of frugal energy solutions focus on capacity building and the inclusion of marginalized low-income people, whereas business models of water purification solutions focus on more traditional corporate social responsibility activities, such as marketing awareness campaigns and cooperation with non-governmental organizations. Three major sustainability challenges for frugal innovators were identified: (1) the proper integration of material efficiency into product or service systems; (2) the patient promotion of inclusive employment; and (3) the promotion of inclusive and sustainable local industrialization. The article concludes that despite indisputable similarities between frugality and sustainability, it is problematic to equate the two conceptually.

67 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors organize and review the substantive innovation research in India based on its scope and focus, and find that it has yielded unique insights about India's innovation systems and processes at both the institutional and firm levels.
Abstract: The rapid economic growth that India enjoyed following the start of its economic reforms in 1991 has led to a growing scholarly interest in Indian organizations and management practices. In this paper, we bring together extant yet dispersed research on one important and salient element of Indian economic growth: innovation. We organize and review the substantive innovation research in India based on its scope and focus, and find that it has yielded unique insights about India’s innovation systems and processes at both the institutional and firm levels. Three interesting trends emerge from this review of the literature. First, a growing body of research has started identifying innovation phenomena unique to India, such as “frugal innovation” and the related notion of “jugaad.” Second, a discernible arc in Indian innovation research can be observed, that is, a shift from a focus on the role of the state to the role of MNEs and Indian businesses in innovation. Finally, unlike much innovation research elsewhere, there appears to be significant interest in innovation that serves the need of the poor. We conclude with directions for future research on innovation within the Indian context.

65 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a conceptual framework that combines drivers behind frugal innovation and reverse innovation, and discuss future research avenues to enrich our understanding of these seemingly important topics.
Abstract: There is no lack of prefixes for a term innovation in innovation discourse. Concepts of frugal innovation and reverse innovation have emerged recently and there are already several hallmark examples of them. However, extant academic literature on these concepts is still quite limited. The purpose of this article is to analytically study these concepts by investigating their in the innovation landscape. We present a conceptual framework that combines drivers behind these concepts. We also discuss future research avenues to enrich our understanding of these seemingly important topics.

52 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors suggest that firms should transpose bottom-of-the-pyramid (BOP) strategies to top-of the pyramid (TOP) countries through adapted business models, noting that strategies usually apply to developing countries.
Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to suggest that firms should transpose bottom-of-the-pyramid (BOP) strategies to top-of-the-pyramid (TOP) countries through adapted business models, noting that strategies usually apply to developing countries This would enable them to address the consequences of the economic crisis that has increased the number of poor and financially constrained customers in developed countries Design/methodology/approach – This is a conceptual article based on current research and multiple examples from real-world companies that have implemented BOP business models These are viewed from the angle of frugal innovation, a fresh perspective on innovation as an outcome and process, which means innovating while significantly economizing the use of scarce resources Findings – The paper explains how firms should adapt the three dimensions of their business models (value proposition, resources and competences and organization) to transpose BOP business models to TOP countries Limitat

46 citations



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a conceptual framework that combines drivers behind frugal innovation and reverse innovation, and discuss future research avenues to enrich our understanding of these seemingly important topics.
Abstract: There is no lack of prefixes for a term innovation in innovation discourse. Concepts of frugal innovation and reverse innovation have emerged recently and there are already several hallmark examples of them. However, extant academic literature on these concepts is still quite limited. The purpose of this article is to analytically study these concepts by investigating their in the innovation landscape. We present a conceptual framework that combines drivers behind these concepts. We also discuss future research avenues to enrich our understanding of these seemingly important topics.

29 citations


BookDOI
01 Jan 2015

22 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present the theoretical aspects of reverse innovation, its role in building the company's strategy and the impact on the development of emerging economies, as well as the impact of the reverse innovation on the real world.
Abstract: Innovation is nowadays one of the most important factors of modernity and competitive position of business units and the entire economy. To continue developing and maintaining an advantage in the market enterprises will increasingly need to focus on radical innovation. This undoubtedly is reversed innovation. The concept of reverse innovation bases on research on innovation implemented in poor, developing countries, what generates incomparably lower costs than in the case of laboratories held in developed countries. The main idea of the concept is final transfer of the product and its adaptation, then its use and distribution on highly developed markets. This is the opposite of the traditional approach to innovation, which is used in knowledge-based economies in the developed world. It is expected that emerging markets will be in greater extent used as a cheap production resources on a larger scale than at present – both for research and development. The concept of reverse innovation, that is the production of ideas on emerging market and then their “upstreaming” to Western markets, is however a big challenge for the organization. It involves elimination of existing organizational structures and creation of new ones, modernization of research, development and production methods, as well as reorientation of awareness of employees and executives. The paper presents the theoretical aspects of reverse innovation, its role in building the company’s strategy and the impact on the development of emerging economies.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors draw on social geography, affect studies, and postcolonial media studies to analyse value creation in the Indian mobile phone market, specifically in the deployment of an Indian form of workaround called 'jugaad' and identify this market as a collection of human-technical assemblages that are marketed through a rhetoric of frugal innovation.
Abstract: Previous studies have identified affect as constitutive of and woven into everyday life. Less work has focused on how affect is designed and produced through consumer services and goods to modulate human–technical assemblages for commercial and economic ends. In this paper, I draw on social geography, affect studies, and postcolonial media studies to analyse value creation in the Indian mobile phone market, specifically in the deployment of an Indian form of workaround called ‘jugaad’. Following nonrepresentational analyses of digital practices, I identify this market as a collection of human–technical assemblages that are marketed through a rhetoric of frugal innovation or jugaad. Moving through examples from fieldnotes, case studies, and reports, the analysis of the affective atmospheres of Indian mobile phone marketing communications appraises televised Bharti Airtel adverts. Findings of this analysis suggest affect has spatial, temporal, and economic dimensions, as well as being embedded in everyday e...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used interpretive structural modelling (ISM) to develop inter-relationship among antecedents of innovation, which will further help managers in formulating innovation strategies.
Abstract: The objective of this study is to determine antecedents of the innovation process in Indian conditions. In this research, researchers have used interpretive structural modelling (ISM) to develop inter-relationship among antecedents of innovation, which will provide direction to researchers for further research. It will further help managers in formulating innovation strategies. The research was conducted based on expert’s opinion about antecedents of innovation. It is observed, ‘scarce resources’ and ‘innovation culture’ are two important antecedents which have affected all the antecedents of innovation in India. In order to increase innovation performance in India, ‘innovation culture’ and ‘scarce resources’ should be resolved. There have been a number of researches about innovation barriers in general. This paper must be taken as a theoretical model development and can be empirically tested in Indian conditions.

Dissertation
01 Jan 2015
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated bricolage in entrepreneurial firms and its impact on firm performance and provided empirical tests of bricolages and firm performance, and tested environmental dynamism and team compositions as moderating effects that impact the bricolag-performance relationship.
Abstract: Bricolage is one way firms innovate in the midst of resource constraints. In this thesis bricolage in entrepreneurial firms is investigated as is its impact on firm performance. The research provides empirical tests of bricolage and firm performance and tests environmental dynamism and team compositions as moderating effects that impact the bricolage-performance relationship. The limits of bricolage during firm creation are also explored. This research offers several novel theoretical contributions and some suggestions for entrepreneurs who typically use bricolage in attempts of firm creation.

Journal ArticleDOI
03 Nov 2015
TL;DR: The Aravind Eye Care System in India is one such solution that has touched millions of lives as discussed by the authors, which was founded by Dr. Venkataswamy, an Indian ophthalmologist, making cataract surgeries affordable and to eliminate the needless blindness.
Abstract: In the age of consumerism, efforts at developing products and services have largely been focused on utilizing resources in addressing the wants and needs of people especially at the top of the economic pyramid. The products designed with sophisticated features lead to higher complexity and cost. These products do not satisfy the needs of the low-income consumers who live on an income that is less than $5 a day (Guerrant Foundation 2014). The consumers at the base of the economic pyramid live in environments which are geographically remote, with constrained financial resources, institutional void, and insufficient technological know-how. These contextual constraints can be turned into advantages through frugal innovation, leading to delivering quality services and products for low-income consumers. Frugal innovation helps in bringing down the cost of products without compromising on quality, by minimizing the consumption of resources during design, development, and production stages. The prosthetic limb “Jaipur Foot” which costs $45 is a classic example of frugal innovation. With Jaipur Foot, the wearers can squat, run, sit cross-legged, and climb trees (Bound & Thornton 2012, Hasib 2013). Due to low-cost and non-compromised quality, the Jaipur Foot has restored dignity and mobility for over 400,000 people in Afghanistan, India, and Iraq (Kanani et al. 2011). Science and technology are to be used judiciously for the benefit of all. Frugal products can provide greater functionality to a wider cross section of people by minimizing costs and resource consumption. Frugal innovation helps in repositioning the poor from passive recipients of donations to active consumers. People at the base of economic pyramid are “media dark.” They are denied access to services and products and are unaware of available alternatives and how to use them. Frugal innovation places affordable products and solutions in the hands of those at the base of the economic pyramid, leading to empowerment and improvements in their lives. The Aravind Eye Care System in India is one such solution that has touched millions of lives. About 80 % of cataract blindness cases are reported in developing countries (Thulasiraj & Rangan 2007). The social costs of blindness are high, with those affected often losing their livelihood and self-respect. Eye surgeries at private hospitals are costly, and the treatment is not affordable especially for those living at the base of the economic pyramid. The Aravind Eye Care System was founded by Dr. Venkataswamy, an Indian ophthalmologist, making cataract surgeries affordable and to eliminate the needless blindness. The Aravind eye care model performs 70 % of the surgeries free of cost and could reach out to the poorest of the poor (Bound & Thornton 2012). While the rich clients have the privilege of paying for personal rooms, the same quality eye care services are provided to the poor on a no frills basis (Bound & Thornton 2012). Aravind eye care doctors are able to perform 3000–4000 surgeries a year through their unique service-oriented model (Mehta & Shenoy 2011). Making products affordable by reducing the cost does not necessarily mean simply stripping off features. For truly meaningful in the user context, the products have to be redesigned innovatively while keeping in mind the user requirements. For successful consumer adoption, the product developers have to step into the shoes of the consumers to identify the needs of the users and, to understand in depth the operational environments and associated constraints. Interviews aid in understanding the needs that the users are aware of. For frugal innovation, it is essential to dive deeper to understand the contextual constraints which may not always be articulated by users. The contextual constraints could be associated with the cultural norms or society, the environmental constraints, and technical background. Ethnography is the technique utilized to identify user needs and requirements by observing the users in their socially established environments (Shahidi & Kasiun 2009).

Posted Content
TL;DR: In this article, the authors suggest that firms should transpose bottom-of-the-pyramid (BOP) strategies to top-of the pyramid (TOP) countries through adapted business models, noting that strategies usually apply to developing countries.
Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to suggest that firms should transpose bottom-of-the-pyramid (BOP) strategies to top-of-the-pyramid (TOP) countries through adapted business models, noting that strategies usually apply to developing countries. This would enable them to address the consequences of the economic crisis that has increased the number of poor and financially constrained customers in developed countries. Design/methodology/approach – This is a conceptual article based on current research and multiple examples from real-world companies that have implemented BOP business models. These are viewed from the angle of frugal innovation, a fresh perspective on innovation as an outcome and process, which means innovating while significantly economizing the use of scarce resources. Findings – The paper explains how firms should adapt the three dimensions of their business models (value proposition, resources and competences and organization) to transpose BOP business models to TOP countries. Limitations and advantages of this transposition are also detailed. Research limitations/implications – A lack of prior research on how firms can confront poverty in TOP countries is emphasized. Further studies are needed to help firms adapt to the new economic conditions in TOP countries. Practical implications – Practitioners can use the recommendations herein to adapt their business models and address dramatic economic and social changes in the developed countries in which they function. Originality/value – Considering the differences between developed and developing countries, firms should promote a BOP mind-set, rather than struggling to transpose full BOP business models to TOP settings.

Book ChapterDOI
01 Jan 2015
TL;DR: In this article, some of the key ideas and practices that research has revealed can stimulate or support the processes and outcomes of innovation in public service organisations are discussed, given the conventional wisdom about innovation, which sometimes includes frankly wishful thinking.
Abstract: In this chapter I aim to distil some of the key ideas and practices that research has revealed can stimulate or support the processes and outcomes of innovation in public service organisations. Some of the propositions may be surprising to readers, given the conventional wisdom about innovation, which sometimes includes frankly wishful thinking. There has also been an over-reliance (still) on the private sector for the understanding of innovation, and more written about manufacturing than about service innovation.

01 Jan 2015
TL;DR: In this paper, the essential value of a product is defined during early design phases, and how it guides the just-enough trade-off between affordability and performance of the product.
Abstract: The frugal innovation approach takes place in developing countries to develop simple but essential products for low-income population. This approach asks for careful trade-offs to target a just-enough between cost reduction and essential value of the product. In this paper, we aim at understanding how the essential value of a product is defined during early design phases, and how it guides the  just-enough between affordability and performance. Our study of five frugal products in India shows three strategies that define differently the essential values and their associated just-enough: design by aggregation, design by extension, and design by focalization. Design by focalization seems to answer frugal design issues, as it isolates the essential value in order to reduce drastically the overall cost. The introduction of the concept of Non-Trade-Offs (NTO), meaning the non-negotiable elements that guide design choices, helps understanding how to separate this essential value from additional functionalities. Our study gives new directions for both practionners and researchers towards a design for essential value, in developing countries but also in westerns countries.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The Frugal Innovation Lab at Santa Clara University tries to help social enterprises to achieve this balance by leveraging existing tools, which not only foster their mission but also empowers them to adapt to the changing business needs.

Book ChapterDOI
01 Jan 2015
TL;DR: Govindarajan and Ramamurti as mentioned in this paper provide a framework based on lessons in frugal innovations derived from emerging market experiences, which can help businesses and governments in the developed economies stay relevant to their stakeholders.
Abstract: Since the outbreak of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), businesses and governments in developed economies are more focused on a single metric than ever before: sustainable affordability. The survival depends on cutting back on the wasteful ways of the past, and is an opportunity for reinvention through, perhaps, creative destruction (Schumpeter and Backhaus 2003). Consequently, an opportunity to learn and adopt more frugal and sustainable ways in innovating has emerged. In this chapter, we provide a framework based on lessons in frugal innovations derived from emerging market experiences. Frugal innovation results in affordable products and services through minimizing the use of resources or by leveraging them in new ways (Govindarajan and Ramamurti 2011; Bound and Thornton 2012; Radjou et al. 2012). The lessons from successful frugal innovations in emerging countries are important—they provide a continuous and sustainable innovation approach—and help businesses and governments in the developed economies stay relevant to their stakeholders. Besides, more inclusive services innovation—as seen in examples from India, China, Africa, and other emerging countries, may ultimately ensure established businesses have a way of providing “good enough” service experiences, at low cost, and more importantly, in shortest time to benefit.

01 Jan 2015
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigate the innovation process of frugal innovations at the grassroots level from ideation, to development and finally market entry, and they show that the process for local Frugal Innovations is rather simple, flowing from idea to research and development, finally arriving at a final product.
Abstract: This thesis investigates the innovation process of frugal innovations at the grassroots level from ideation, to development and finally market entry. Existing literature is focused mostly on frugal innovations in a corporate environment. Nevertheless, also people living at the bottom of the pyramid have potential to innovate useful products. For these innovations the thesis establishes the concept local frugal innovations to emphasize their uniqueness inside the general frugal innovation discourse. The research is an exploratory case study using three cases from India representing frugal innovations at the grassroots level. Firstly, Mitticool which is a refrigerator made out of clay. Secondly, low-cost sanitary napkins and a machine to produce these napkins locally in villages. Thirdly a milking machine which operates without electricity. The data material is collected mainly from secondary sources using online data and visual data. The innovation process of frugal innovations at the grassroots level is different in comparison with the traditional innovation process. Local frugal innovators get the idea for the innovation from a problem either he or his family members suffer from it. In the case of local frugal innovations studied in this thesis, the innovator is not highly educated nor a scientist, but rather learning by doing and by using the means at hand. Throughout most of the innovation process the innovator acts alone. The contribution to literature is the understanding of local frugal innovations and the innovation process. The study shows that the process for local frugal innovations is rather simple, flowing from idea to research and development, finally arriving at a final product. It is only at this point that external support enters the picture. The innovators have the capacity to conduct necessary research on their own, despite the limited access to financial and other resources. The solution is a holistic answer to the problem, including for instance also the aspect of local rural employment. The innovation can be used widely to people like the innovator himself.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors focused on the preference of e-bikes among the women in Madurai city and studied the environment impact of electric bikes compared with other forms of transportation.
Abstract: The increasing urbanization with climate change, global warming issues and the related need to decarbonize the economy, is forcing urgency for identifying the alternate source for the global adoption and sustainable scalable solutions. The country’s demographic and road patterns and its natural resources availability provide enormous scope for the electric bike industry. As per the “Navigant Research Report”, it is predicted that by 2018, the sales of electric vehicles in India will shoot up by 17 percent. 1.1 million electric vehicles will be targeted within next five years. A recent study on the environment impact of e-bikes with other forms of transportation found that e-bikes are about 18 times more energy consumption than SUV, 13 times than a sedan, 6 times more than rail transit, and it is having considered as an innovated conventional bicycle. It is a frugal innovation strategy which provide safe carbon free environment, and moreover a part of health rehabilitation programmes. It is required that societal, economic and political and infrastructure systems integrate together to balance the energy environment. With this potential, the era of electric bike started its new avenues on the roads of India specifically focusing on Indian women. To develop this viewpoint, the present study focuses on the preference of e-bike among the women in Madurai city.

MonographDOI
31 Oct 2015
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors focus on practical ways public managers at home and abroad are dealing with these shared dilemmas and bring together renowned scholars in the fields of public sector productivity, performance management, "frugal innovation" and budget stringency, with leading international and Australasian practitioners sharing their successes and challenges.
Abstract: Contemporary public managers find themselves under pressure on many fronts. Coming off a sustained period of growth in their funding and some complacency about their performance, they now face an environment of ferocious competitiveness abroad and austerity at home. Public managers across Australia and New Zealand are finding themselves wrestling with expenditure reduction, a smaller public sector overall, sustained demands for productivity improvement, and the imperative to think differently about the optimal distribution of responsibilities between states, markets and citizens. Given ever-shrinking resources, in terms of staffing, budgets and time, how can public managers and public services become more productive, more outcome-driven and more agile? How can we achieve better alignment between ever-growing citizen expectations and the realities of constrained service provision? What can we learn from the best combination of innovation and austerity already being delivered in other countries and sectors, including harnessing the grounded wisdom of frontline service delivery practitioners? This book focuses on practical ways public managers at home and abroad are dealing with these shared dilemmas. It brings together renowned scholars in the fields of public sector productivity, performance management, ‘frugal innovation’ and budget stringency, with leading international and Australasian practitioners sharing their successes and challenges.

01 Jan 2015
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that polycentric innovation is most likely to generate inclusive development, but even a polycentric approach does not guarantee desired outcomes, as innovation remains context specific.
Abstract: Innovation and entrepreneurship have the potential to stimulate economic growth. Yet it remains unclear whether top-down or bottom-up innovations are more likely to lead to local economic development. By looking at three cases of frugal innovation on the Zambian Copperbelt, in the spheres of housing, water and energy, it will be argued that polycentric innovation (which connects local and international actors) is most likely to generate inclusive development. Yet even a polycentric approach does not guarantee desired outcomes, as innovation remains context specific.


Book ChapterDOI
01 Jan 2015
TL;DR: It is argued that overcoming challenges to achieve “frugal innovation” requires design strategies which deploy new technologies and organizational approaches, and presents case studies of four firms and their innovations in the health care domain from India.
Abstract: The much vaunted fortune at the bottom of the pyramid (BoP) has proven hard to reach. This is because realizing the opportunities provided by the BoP market faces several challenges, ranging from affordability to a lack of human and physical infrastructure. This paper argues that overcoming these challenges to achieve “frugal innovation” requires design strategies which deploy new technologies and organizational approaches. To substantiate its argument, the paper presents case studies of four firms and their innovations in the health care domain. All the cases are from India, which has emerged an ideal location for developing products and services for the BoP market. India not only has the skills to propose new technological solutions, but also a market characterized by socioeconomic diversity to demand various organizational approaches. Two cases focus on diagnostic devices and products: one is a portable ophthalmic imaging device to reduce preventable blindness, while the other is a baby warmer to lower infant mortality by preventing hypothermia. The other two cases focus on health care delivery: one relies on telemedicine while the other relies on mobile telephony to provide access for hard-to-reach populations. All four cases describe the circumstances surrounding the design, development, and deployment of the products and services. The paper will point to the challenges the firms faced, even as they successfully designed for the BoP context. For diagnostic devices, the challenge of positioning a new offering in the diagnostic devices ecosystem, especially in terms of quality and cost, figures prominently. For service delivery, the challenge is to negotiate and manage the balance between the technological and human elements in servicing those needing care. Each case provides insight into the factors responsible for the sustainable deployment of these innovations, thus enabling a degree of extrapolation of lessons.

01 Jan 2015
TL;DR: In this paper, the value of the MVPs for a product development process is appraised within a case study on a local entrepreneurship project in Jharkot, Lower Mustang, Nepal.
Abstract: Well-designed products and services link to the ability of designers of interpreting needs, but they often struggle getting valuable contributions from users when developing innovative products and services. Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) address this problem through a practice of connected leaning and development. MVPs are useful to test the utility of a product before making efforts to improve its usability and desirability. In this article, the value of the MVPs for a product development process is appraised within a case study on a local entrepreneurship project in Jharkot, Lower Mustang, Nepal. The case study shows that MVPs are not only interesting for mass-production or high-end design, but comprise a valuable tool for Micro- Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and frugal Innovation too. Among others, MVPs emphasize the importance of testing different prototypes, which is an interesting onset for future research on collaborative knowledge generation and co-operative decision-making between stakeholders.

01 Jan 2015
TL;DR: In this paper, a frugal product and methodology for customizing prosthetic socket for developing countries where an overwhelming number of prostheses are necessary, and the availability, accessibility and cost of prosthetics are significant concerns to limb deficient persons that without the assistance of a prosthetic device may not be able to function.
Abstract: sIn this thesis, we presented a frugal product and methodology for customizing prosthetic socket for developing countries where an overwhelming number of prostheses are necessary, and the availability, accessibility and cost of prosthetics are significant concerns to limb deficient persons that without the assistance of a prosthetic device may not be able to function In order to design a frugal prosthetic socket, a design methodology is sought that will best achieve an appropriately designed, low-cost, with simple production method Through the study of modern design methodologies, a strategy is proposed that emphasizes the intersection of the mechanical design process (contemporary design tools), biomechanics, and low-cost design Key components of this methodology are previous research and frugal innovation in the design process Along with a review of the state of the art, provide the groundwork for both the proposed new methodology as well as generating a new concept of prosthetic socket The result of this study, using the generated concept and simple methodology, a frugal prosthetic socket (FPS) is developed to demonstrate the basic functionality of the concept and manufacturability of the proposed method Finally, Frugal Prosthetic Socket is found as a solution for the problems since it can reduce one heavy complex process for optimizing customization of the prosthetic socket and reduce 70 % of the cost of the prosthetic socket by using local material (rawhide), local manufacturing technique and implementing frugal innovation concept

Book ChapterDOI
01 Jan 2015
TL;DR: Innovations emerging from the bottom of the pyramid (BOP) markets have been engaging scholars and practitioners in the last decade and several concepts have emerged to describe this phenomenon, such as frugal innovation, Gandhian innovation, inclusive innovation, jugaad innovation and reverse innovation as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Innovations emerging from the Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP) markets have been engaging scholars and practitioners in the last decade. Several concepts have emerged to describe this phenomenon, such as frugal innovation, Gandhian innovation, inclusive innovation, jugaad innovation and reverse innovation, which describe this emerging phenomenon from different perspectives. This emerging phenomenon has the potential to enrich mainstream management theories, however, the BOP phenomenon remains largely under-theorized in academic literature.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors evaluate the sustainability of four frugal innovations from water and energy sectors and conclude that despite indisputable similarities between frugality and sustainability, it is problematic to equate the two conceptually.
Abstract: Frugal innovations are often associated with sustainable development. These connections, however, are based on anecdotal assumptions rather than empirical evidence. This article evaluates the sustainability of four frugal innovations from water and energy sectors. For the purposes of the evaluation, a set of indicators was developed. Indicators are drawn from sustainable development goals by the United Nations and they encompass central dimensions of sustainability: ecological, social and economic. In this article, frugal innovations are compared to solutions that are currently used in similar low-income contexts. Studied frugal innovations were found more sustainable in terms of energy production and water purification capacity than the existing solutions. In terms of social sustainability, larger differences between innovations were found. For example, business models of frugal energy solutions focus on capacity building and the inclusion of marginalized low-income people, whereas business models of water purification solutions focus on more traditional corporate social responsibility activities, such as marketing awareness campaigns and cooperation with non-governmental organizations. Three major sustainability challenges for frugal innovators were identified: (1) the proper integration of material efficiency into product or service systems; (2) the patient promotion of inclusive employment; and (3) the promotion of inclusive and sustainable local industrialization. The article concludes that despite indisputable similarities between frugality and sustainability, it is problematic to equate the two conceptually.