Frugal Innovation: How to Do More With Less

In their illuminating latest work, coauthors Radjou and Prabhu (Jugaad Innovation), both academics at Cambridge Judge Business School in India, continue to tackle the topic of innovation. Maintaining that in today’s cost-conscious, eco-friendly business environment, organizations must not only learn to “do more with less,” but also to “do better with less,” they offer six principles to companies looking for new ways to compete. This accessible yet substantive book illustrates how “frugal innovation” is practiced throughout the world, using case studies, best practices, and techniques. Examples come from well-known global companies such as Renault, Novartis, GE, and Aetna, as well as lesser-known companies. Succinct chapter summaries add to the book’s usefulness. While Radjou and Prabhu acknowledge that “implementing a frugal innovation strategy in any organization can be daunting,” this practical overview will be a helpful guide to business owners and managers interested “in setting goals and priorities that match [their] company’s culture and needs” on the road to combining frugality and innovation. [em]Agent: Bridget Wagner, Zachary Shuster Harmsworth Literary Agency. (Feb.) [/em]