JUGAAD Innovation : A Frugal and Flexible Approach to Innovation for the 21st Century

A Frugal Approach to Success

How often have we licked an envelope to seal it in the absence of glue? Or how often we see auto rickshaws in India having a wooden ply right behind the driver’s seat to ferry more school students? 

A Jugaad through Wooden Ply 

Or how many times have we done with a make shift arrangement (used a string) for getting the cars falling bumper fixed? Or how many times have we felt triumphant when came up with a new way of doing the same thing which either resulted in savings in time, cost, energy, etc.? In our slang we call it either “Jhol” or “Jugaad”. The authors Navi Radjou, Jaideep Prabhu and Simone Ahuja through their book “Jugaad Innovation : A Frugal and Flexible Approach to Innovation for the 21^st Century” take us on a journey of “Jugaad” innovation in products and services which are shaping or have the potential to positively impact lives, the world over. They convincingly argue that how “jugaad” innovation is the need of the hour keeping in mind the rapidly changing business dynamics which range from depleting natural resources, ever increasing competition, rising awareness amongst customers, escalating costs, ageing population and fast changing trends among others. The “Jugaad” innovation scores over traditional systematic research through well equipped R&D labs and incubation centre as it curtails time and capital required. Another advantage of “Jugaad” innovation - it’s always bottoms-up, whereas, the same is not always true for the traditional research.

The authors list down six principles (qualities / essentials) each in the form of a chapter highlighting the must haves for a successful “jugaad” innovation. They also quote various examples of successful “juggad” ideas relating to each of these principles to drive home their point. The six principles are;

• Seek Opportunity in Adversity
• Do More with Less
• Think and Act Flexibly
• Keep it Simple
• Include the Margin 
• Follow Your Heart

Further, the authors explain how these principles can be integrated in an organizational set up and how even nations (economies) as a whole can inculcate the culture of “Jugaad” to utilise the available resources (natural, labour and capital) more productively.

The book is not without its share of shortfalls. In the very first sentence of the book, the authors have committed a glaring error by mentioning the Capital of Gujarat State in India as “Ahmedabad” instead of “Gandhinagar”. Further, there are few formatting and punctuation errors as we move along. But one can overlook the same. I have the Devil’s eye for errors.

Nonetheless, the book is a delight to read (even a non-reader will enjoy) and difficult to put down. The compelling real life stories of people and organizations trying to improve the lives of people and making this world a better place to live, are inspiring and intriguing. The extensive research speaks for the “Jugaad” done by the authors in getting this master piece together. The research doesn’t end with the book though – the authors have created a webpage “www.jugaadinnovation.com” where they talk of more “Jugaad” ideas, videos and interviews of some of these innovators.

The book is a must read for every budding entrepreneur, academicians, corporate managers, CEOs, R&D teams, consultants and students irrespective of their discipline.

The book will be a hot property, if only it is priced “frugally”.