FRUGAL INNOVATION IN COMPLEX SYSTEMS: EVIDENCE FROM NUCLEAR REACTOR DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA
DS 92: Proceedings of the DESIGN 2018 15th International Design Conference
Year: 2018
Editor: Marjanović D., Štorga M., Škec S., Bojčetić N., Pavković N.
Author: Verma, Aditi
Series: DESIGN
Section: SOCIOTECHNICAL ISSUES IN DESIGN
Page(s): 2787-2798
DOI number: https://doi.org/10.21278/idc.2018.0453
Abstract
Frugal innovation has typically been observed in the design of relatively simple artifacts and systems.This work finds evidence of in a ‘complex’ setting: the design and development nuclear reactors in India. Drawing on more than 40 interviews with reactor designers and equipment manufacturers, this paper describes the improvisational design practices that led to a localization of reactor technology in India. These findings are significant because they suggest the possibility of an alternate home-grown technology development paradigm for resource-constrained designers in developing countries.
Keywords: frugal innovation, complex systems, innovation management, design process