India needs to start its journey of innovation by abandoning this mindset outright if it wants to be taken seriously. My core issue with Jugaad is the mindset that comes along with it, and which cant be disengaged from. It is an instinct of someone living in scarcity and in a survival mode . Historically we have never had enough of anything given our massive population – land, food, power, roads, education, Jobs, money, opportunities etc. Abundance is not in our vocabulary. India has seen remarkable growth in all areas in the last few decades, but we still holdon to the paradigm of Jugaad which is the result of this impoverished past. The impact of this thinking on India is widespread – the charmless cities, lack of aesthetics in Made in India products, the quality of workmanship in general, the tolerance to political corruption and even our ambition as a nation. More in my post on Jugaad
Re: India needs to abandon the ‘Jugaad’ mindset
by Rahul Balyan on Nov 18, 2012 03:07 PM
Post link - http://www.rahulbalyan.com/2012/11/india-needs-to-abandon-the-jugaad-mindset/
Jugaad is not the only word that has hurt India a lot.Attitudes like Chalta Hai and words Bandobast are and Set kar Doonga also hurting India very much.These are the types which gives scope for corruption.
Indian IT industries are too feeling the heat of recession in the US and Europe. But, the process has been a bit slow in catching on India. There is need for new thinking, in terms of seeking new market for the lower and middle ranking IT companies in India to survive the coming years of tough crunch.
I heard about & saw "JUGAAD" in Rajasthan. It is used for carrying men & material in rural area. A Diesel water pump engine is combined with a gear box of a Jeep & the combination is fitted on a welded frame & Jeep tyres. There's no body or cover & head lights are optional, with a battery. It is a illegal vehicle & hence does not carry registration, but who cares, since it serves people in remote areas.
One has to blame the companies for producing low quality products especially in FMCG sector. This is just to make more profit by making consumers to use volumes by mass producing them. Best examples are in cosmetics/detergents/toiletries. Either they make numerious varities to confuse the users or by reducing pack quantities to keep the price at affordable price once the user gets going on the product. THIS IS LIKE ORGANISED CRIME BY GANGSTERS. The best example of reverse innovation is trying to make the common INDIAN PUBLIC FOOLS above tactics by multinational companies.
Re: Products with low quality
by Ramesh Yagnik on Apr 19, 2012 03:32 PM
We can see almost all MNC products with Non Standard weights & Volumes. Actually Weights & measurement Standards dept should deal with such mischiefs very firmly, but wet palms they are allowing them with a label of 'Non Standard Product weight & volume', which should be allowed only exceptional cases like biscuits, But an Exception has become a LAW here. People should raise voice against this looting practices, in Consumer Court.
Perhaps - most probably - Indian Industry has refused to innovate since Indian Businesspersons typically have no ethics and try to extract the maximum possible by paying the lowest possible wages spending zero on innovation and ignoring safety. However Jugaad as may be properly defined has served rural and semi-urban India well by providing desi solutions at low cost for the ordinary person. I have taught at a Private Polytechnic and I can attest that as popularly described only 10% of Indian Engineering Graduates are employable. The typical roadside uneducated mechanic knows a lot more about machines than our Degree and Diploma holders
Re: Re: Industry
by Comment Posts on Apr 19, 2012 03:30 PM
Uncle Sam has already started greasing you guys and they looking for penetration so finally there is a shift in leader ship in India as well as America so just wait n watch BJP and Republicans. As far as your little eyed friends are concerned they will disintegrate soon you know why cause they got muslims and that too in good numbers rest you know your religion very well
There's no such thing as reverse innovation John Deere is not innovating anything by making smaller tractors in India. The Bangalore hospital is doing the same job as is being done in a US hospital, whre's the innovation? If GE makes an ECG machine for 1/4 price of USA, that's just financial jugglery, not innovation.
Indian companies have a long long way to go b4 they even start thinking of innovation. They must first provide first-class products & svcs to Indians, then there will b a market for better, more innovative products.
Its hilarious that the title says 'jugaad has hurt India' but all it talks about is jugaad in reducing prices, quality and size.
Re: what 'reverse innovation'?
by Praveen Kumar on Apr 19, 2012 03:28 PM
Well said Abhishek.I am totally agree with you.All these American Chamchas & psychological slaves who abuses India in the name of Technological backwardness are the real cause for Indians lagging behind. As they talk about John-Deere what extra features this tractor have as compared to Indian brand Mahindra,Swraj & HMT.I found no difference at all.Neither in price nor in quality. If he is talking about medical field,I can show him atleast six examples where their Alopathy & machine based modern science fails. and I am not making any false statement like our corrupt leaders but its a hard core challenge with proof. So it is just a hoax nothing else than that.
Re: what 'reverse innovation'?
by mang on Apr 19, 2012 03:51 PM
Completely agree with you. Whatever example this prof has quoted cannot be termed as innovations.
Re: what 'reverse innovation'?
by K PRABHAKARAN on Apr 19, 2012 04:04 PM
Spot on, Abhishek. The learned prof has erred in judging what is a 'jugaad' and what is 'innovation'.
Re: what 'reverse innovation'?
by kiran paranjpe on Apr 19, 2012 04:19 PM
Jugaad has come to mean getting something done somehow. The only test is that it works. The bad thing about Jugaad is a fond hope that something favorable will turnout in the end. It does on some occasions when the way to do things is not known generally and compromises are acceptable to all. Would Jugaad qualify as a sound management practice although it is widely prevalent in India? Can one make strategic decisions based on Jugaad when Planning and control that govern any implementation is replaced by trust and contacts of some persons with no certainty of a desirable outcome. One fails to understand why Jugaad is touted for innovation.Some examples of Jugaad are Laundry machines being used for lassi making, Paper clips being used to open locks,LPG cooking cylinders being fitted for driving vehicles, Copper strands from a normal household wire being used as a fuse wire,an old fridge being used as an almirah, or exercise bicycle used as a stand for drying clothes.
