"Frugal Innovation: Ways forward for Concept, Theory and Practice"

Abstract

This symposium aims to bring together researchers interested in the emerging field of ‘frugal innovation’. The increasing practitioner and scholarly discourse in frugal innovation encourages dialogue from different perspectives around new forms of innovation strategy and entrepreneurship in undeserved markets. We feel this subject rethinks fundamental assumptions in innovation studies, which would be of great interest to the conference theme Capitalism in Question as well as the TIM, BPS, and OMT. This paper and roundtable symposium would offer focused and informed discussion and feedback on ‘in progress’ research and practice on frugal innovation. Given the infancy of this field, the symposium solicits the following basic questions about the concept of ‘frugal innovation’: 1. What is distinctive about frugal innovation, relative to other modes of innovation? 2. How might we define conceptually and tightly define frugal innovation? 3. How and where might this phenomenon be best studied? 4. Why frugal innovation can become mainstream topic in innovation studies? The papers and the interactive discussion in this proposed symposium examine the concept, theory and practice of frugal innovation. We expect this symposium on frugal innovation, the first of its kind at the Academy, would provide for visibility and convene kindred spirits among varied researchers interested in this phenomenon. The eventual outcomes may help to push forward work on a special issue or an edited volume. The Practice of Frugal Innovation in Healthcare and IT Presenter: Preeta Banerjee; Brandeis U. Presenter: William J Oliver; Brandeis U. Frugal innovation and Disruptive Innovation Theory Presenter: Sanjay Jain; Santa Clara U. The Frugal Paradigm: Developing a Conceptual Framework for Affordability-Driven Innovations Presenter: Rajnish Tiwari; Hamburg U. of Technology Presenter: Cornelius Herstatt; Hamburg-Harburg U. Frugal Solutions: Lessons from Practice Presenter: Peter Hesseldahl; Universe Foundation Conceptualizing and Operationalizing Frugal Innovation Presenter: Yasser Ahmad Bhatti; U. of Oxford