Jugaad Innovation: A Frugal and Flexible Approach to Innovation for the 21st Century by Navi Radjou

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

• 
  Ashok Rao

  Before I read this book I had a negative opinion about the word 'juggad'. But now I know that jugged is nothing but being innovative. Here we need to focus more on customer's needs not their desire. For example I stay in Mumbai and I always used to hear from my mom how expensive fruits have become. They are needs and I decided to something about it. I decided to do a jugaad. I told some of friends that we could go to nearby Vashi wholesale market and buy fruits in quantity at wholesale rate. It really worked. Just imagine how much money we saved every year. The key to jugaad is simplicity and of course it should be cheaper. As Leonard da Vinci rightly said that 'simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. So jugaad innovators are masters of simplicity.
• 
  ArKay

  Every business faces challenges that it must overcome in order to be functional and successful. To this end, each business structures its organisation and streamlines the internal processes thereby delivering products and services very much sought after by customers in need or otherwise. The traditional approach of structured innovation, a top down method, has yielded speldid results thus far. There is no reason why it would not in the future, however, with some alterations that enable it to adapt to market dynamics that are by nature extremely volatile. Enter, Jugaad.
  
  The crux of this unique book is something that is imbued into the hearts & minds of most people who have had to go through even moderately difficult circumstances or situations. However, it is not quite often that one finds a treatise that not only introduces but goes further on to formalise Jugaad or frugal engineering or one of the umpteen names with which it is known and/or referred to around the world. It is this aspect of the book that is really appealing and is its unique selling point.
  
  Content wise, there is an indepth breakdown of the main concept (Jugaad) with ample examples to highlight the usefullness of each sub concept. The decomposition of Jugaad into six sub principles is not just insightful but, coupled with the real life examples in support of these, provide an enriching and compelling reason for any entrepreneur, budding or otherwise, to forge ahead. The six chapters that deal with the sub concepts of Jugaad provide a case study each, that is outright inspiring.
  
  This is a superbly researched piece of text which can be considered as a formal presentation of a bottom up approach to innovation, that, although could be of disruptive nature, brings about radical changes to innovation thereby allowing businesses to be nimble and successful in both challenging resource constrained environments as well as in general.
  
  
• 
  Aoi

  Overtly long and not terribly interesting.
• 
  Ishika

  Since very early childhood, we are taught to be 'jugaadu', manage with all you got but there's a broader applicability of this concept which is conveyed through this book.
  
  Jugaad Innovation depicts many interesting and innovative ideas along with stating how 'Jugaad' as a concept is applicable in current dynamic and diverse environment. This book has a conceptual (to adopt Jugaad as an effective approach), informative (exceptional institutional works and innovations) and motivational impact.
  
  To summarise: "Jugaad is like a booster, extending a company’s ability to cope with volatility and do more with less in highly constrained strings."
• 
  Shivani

  Kudos to the amazing jugaad innovators in our country solving unique issues of the country within limitations of resources!
• 
  Rajesh CNB

  When N R Naryanamurthy, Chairman Emeritus, Infosys, made a public statement, a couple of years back, that India had not done any ground breaking innovation in the past 60 years and that only Infosys had innovated, I shook with rage at the man's insolence. I had not heard of this book at the time, but I thought that in a country as diverse as ours, innovation must be taking place somewhere or the other. I thought that Mr. Murthy was seeing the whole of innovation scenario through a western lense. Indeed, this book is a fitting reply to that statement about innovation.
  
  As a child, I have seen my father "fix" broken things quite innovatively. Even now, he has a toolkit handy and keeps meddling with broken stuff and most of the times finds a fix. As a professional I have worked with a firm named Associated Business Enterprises, which was into electronic surveillance and we used to call our founder "Jugaad Master" for his uncanny ability to find solutions to most critical problems in the field of electronic surveillance. He has probably pioneered the "plug and play" mechanism of installation of CCTV network in highly volatile and temporary business settings like exhibitions, parties, etc. Also, as the book suggested, he did not 'patent' the idea but 'monetized' it first. When I first enquired "What will you do, if your competitors copied your plug-n-play idea?" he would respond "We will see when they do? God is our guide!" with a smile.
  
  So, this book comes to me both as a revelation and as a validation of many experiences that I have had in my life. I am sure it will be for many Indian professionals. The authors successfully elevate the concept of "Jugaad" which is often used as a reference to "cheap innovation" or at best to "street smartness" to a system of innovation that can actually make a difference to the world around. After reading the tome, I began feeling that Mahatma Gandhi, father of our nation, has used Jugaad in our freedom struggle. Though this is a claim today, if one finds the time and patience to look into it, one may find adequate proof of this.
  
  By validating and systematizing Jugaad, the authors have successfully changed the way I look at innovation. They reverses the innovation framework used in the west and make innovation a "bottom up", "participative" process. Further, they showcase Jugaad as a fundamental building block for social, corporate as well as national innovation pipeline. Thus, from being a simplistic tool in the hands of a village sociopreneur Jugaad transforms into a powerful instrument which can be used by a government to transform a country and propel it into economic and social prosperity.
  
  Lucidly written, replete with examples, rich in ideas, this book is a must read for all those who love India and have felt humiliated seeing the country from a western lense. This book not only offers solace, but also instills confidence that our methods were indeed correct and perhaps the same methods might lead us into the economic superpowerdom that we so aspire to hold. The only complaint that I have about this book is that it repeats itself quite frequently, is now drowned in the positive vibes it has managed to generate in me.
• 
  Dhruv Sharma

  Not a good book.
  
  There are three authors of this book and am not sure which one is to give the credit of repetitive writing. The same content have been repeated again and again.
  
  Jugad is a punjabi word for an informal innovation. Innovation as topic has a very scope to talk about but the book is very disappointing.
  
  There are no aha! moments in the book and all content is about average stuff which I believe every educated person knows. There are many case studies mentioned in the book which are made part of the content to get praise from a brand (you scratch my back & I will scratch yours).
  
  2 stars instead of one as few things about GE made some takeaway from the book, otherwise not worth the time.
  
  
  
  2018: 2 down 48 to go!
• 
  Kalle Wescott

  I read /Jugaad Innovation: A Frugal and Flexible Approach to Innovation for the 21st Century/, by Navi Radjou, Jaideep Prabhu, and Simone Ahuja:
  
  
  https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/b...
  
  The book is about applying the Indian concept of Jugaad to innovation, and how many corporations have done so successfully.
  
  The Jugaad principles are:
  
  1. Seek opportunity in adversity
  2. Do more with less
  3.Think and act flexibly
  4. Keep it simple
  5. Include the margin(alized)
  6. Follow your heart.
• 
  Tatiana

  Main concepts could fill a couple of pages, the rest are countless examples.
• 
  R K

  It’s really nice to see books that incorporate culture into business. There never was one way to do business and there really is no right way either. Business is the living human construction because of its odd relation with human beings. Too much business and it becomes another totalitarian government, too little and we end up fighting with each other in order to claim things. But what type of business is ideal? What can business do to keep up with the pace society is going at?
  
  Juggad reveals how mindset can prove an asset in business. Juggad is basically using what you have to attain what you want. It’s cheap, simple, and effective. To be a little cheeky, it’s the life and blood of Indians. We use juggad in our everyday lives whether we are aware of it or not. In this book, the authors use, through examples, the concept of juggad to provide Western companies new models of business in order to stay afloat for the upcoming turn of society.
  
  
  Review Continued Here
  
• 
  Ashutosh Dave

  3{J}== Jubaan , Junoon & Jugaad ✍✌
  #Businessonourminds #Everfoolish
• 
  Gunjan Gupta

  Book is a collection of beautiful jugaad ventures of people all around the world. It describes how people have built giant companies by simple innovations. Jugaad Entrepreneurs have converted their problems into opportunities.
  Book is a simple reading and collection of many stories right from International Brands like: 3M, Facebook, Apple to home grown companies like: Big Bazaar, Yes Bank, SBI and many more.
• 
  Anuradha Goyal

  I do not agree completely with the authors, but it is an interesting book :
  http://www.anureviews.com/jugaad-inno...
• 
  Tushar Gagerna

  A generic book full of jargons.
• 
  Tanya Sen

  A lot of the general “gyan” on how to innovate was a superfluous / a bit over-engineered and can be sped-read through; my 4 stars are for the wealth of interesting and inspiring examples of frugal innovation from all over the world.
  
  A few of my favourite favourite stories- Mitticool (the 2000 Rs clay fridge), the story of Suzlon, Optima Energia (business model innovation for selling energy efficient solutions - the company pays upfront for installation and the client uses energy savings to pay back for the project), Affinova (a social network P&G used to test new product ideas with customers), the Hapinoy Program (conversion franchising model that upgraded Filipino sari sari stores, enabling them to sell more and sell better), Revolo (a plug in solution for cars that works best in stop and go city traffic, capturing and storing kinetic energy generated every time brakes are applied), Stanford’s Embrace infant warmer, Haier (which noticed that Chinese farmers were using its washing machines to wash potatoes and thus innovated a product especially for that use), Charitra (a platform connecting NGOs with volunteers), IsangLitrongLiwanag (an eco friendly solar bottle bulb that is simply a recycled plastic bottle filled with bleach treated water, fitted into roofs of shanty houses, which refracts the sun’s rays that come in through the slits and creates a 55W lightbulb), the Rural China Education Foundation (seems a bit like a Chinese Pratham) etc.
  
  And one bit of “gyan” that I did think was well put: “[organisations] need to cultivate the wisdom to know when to be like Miles Davis and improvise innovation and when to be like Leonard Bernstein and orchestrate it.”
• 
  Adap Sonam

  “Jugaad Innovation” is an excellent book which is full of motivation and inspiration for the entrepreneur brain. It is the best treat one can have if you are passionate about solving issues in the community or for yourself. It talks about how one can turn a solution into business making it a win-win situation. The principle to remember is SMART: Simple, Maintenance friendly, Affordable, Reliance, Timely to Market. An awesome mantra for any entrepreneur.
  Truly said by the authors, “At the heart of every challenge lies an opportunity.” The COVID 19 pandemic has caused chaos in the community, country and in the world at large. We are forced to follow the new normal and despite the difficulties we are learning to move forward. That’s where this quote really comes into play. Instead of cursing the time and grumbling over the uncertain lockdown, it’s better to realize the need to become stronger. Finding the best possible solution to make your normal work fit into this new normal period.
  As an educator myself, I need to find the best possible ways to impart knowledge through in person teaching and virtual teaching. Any uncertainties due to the COVID shouldn’t hamper the learning of my students.
  
• 
  Siddharrth Jain

  In my most humble opinion, every Innovation can not be termed as a 'Jugaad' and so as well, conversely. The authors (read researchers) have given a detailed understanding of what it takes, and what it should take, to coin 'Jugaad', into the daily operations of a management entity.
  
  'Jugaad' as explained, is a frugal approach to 'make-do'. However quick-fix this approach is, I am unable to comprehend the writing and the penned mantras, to inculcate 'Jugaad' within the system. Yes there are certain methods which can be implemented considering the scarcity of the resources and their ever increasing costs.
  
  This book could have been quirkier. The examples cited within, are too hardcore and lacked a certain wit, which would have kept the reader, engaged. Also I feel, they could have imprinted a few pictures of the 'Jugaad' products. Nevertheless the research should possibly be abridged and made into a case-study, for students pursuing management studies. 📚
• 
  Suraj Saste

  I took a lot of time to finish the book simply because it could not grip me. Here's what I think about this book
  1. The book is written in 2012 and reading it in 2021 had very little relevance in terms of the case studies and the knowledge it would translate
  2. Honestly I felt the book is written in multiple broken chapters and thus does not give you the in-depth perspective on the topics covered.
  3. The case studies do not offer enough depth and feel irrelevant in the world of 2021.
  4. I do not recommend this to people who read multiple case studies or an extensive number of blogs and articles.
• 
  Akshat Dubey

  This reads like a good first draft of a MBA/PhD thesis.
  It lacks organization, and points don't seem to flow or follow a logical structure, making the arguments not seem very coherent. I found a few examples just too descriptive, and the point the author wanted to make either got lost or got confused with another.
  After a while seems like they're just selling you the idea of jugaad, which if you're already sold on, makes you wanna go "okay I get it jugaad is awesome can you get over it"
  
  But yeah if you wanted to read some really motivating success stories, go for it
• 
  Nishant Bhagat

  Read this book really late but the concept still remains relevant. I really liked this book as it is filled with real life examples. While there is a latent need of every business book to come up with lessons learnt or key principles etc., the authors have balanced it well by staying close to real examples. The writing too isn't very jargon heavy and sits lightly.
  
  I would recommend this book to any and everyone to read as this concept is all pervasive. The writers of this book has come up with another one called Jugaad 3.0 so time to add that to the 'to-read' list of mine!
• 
  Nisarg

  Decent. I wouldn't say mind-blowing. Still quite relevant in 2022. However, felt like a drag after a point, as if the ideas were being preached and the same principles repeated over and over again. But I guess that was the whole point— to drive home the message of jugaad. All I'm saying is the book could have been shorter with the same concepts. The highlights of the book for me include introduction to some interesting personalities, their stories and also well-rounded real world case studies :)
• 
  Megha Bhattacharya

  Book #1: Started the year out by reading this highly recommended book. Personally, I enjoyed the concepts in the book especially because of the examples. There is definitely a lot of fluff - but one would expect that as this is the first time this concept has been articulated. Having said that, I would have preferred a lot more actionable steps. Definitely a good book for folks new to the concept. I'd even suggest this as a gift for bosses! ;)
• 
  Amyth Banerjee

  From establishing a Blue-Ocean Strategy driven Entrepreneurial eco-system to understanding the future of raw & real innovation, this book provides an interesting look at how people identify opportunities despite the lack of preparation for such scenarios. The world of a Jugaad innovator revolves around the problem & their persistent effort to truly rise above it. One of my favourite reads in the recent 2 years.