Jugaad ...
Col Prabir Sengupta, VSM
PassionatePrabir| MotivationalSpeaker| YOUthmentor| TEDxSpeaker| JoshTalks| WOmenSAFetyPractitioner| FacultyIIT
In a recent International Summit, I addressed the issue of 'Jugaad' and how as Indians, we are born 'Jugadoos'; and why being called a 'jugadoo' is not an abuse. On the contrary, it displays your 'creativity' and 'frugal innovation'. There are resource constraints and yet you deliver! Your ingenuity delivers. Hello!!! we invented the 'missed calls' remember? We value each penny and therefore, within the constraints of resources and acute deadlines, Jugaad is born.
A number of terms have cropped up pushing people towards jugaad', 'by hook or crook', 'Beg, Borrow, Steal .. I don't care, just get the job done'. With such instructions passed by bosses, its no wonder that jugaad flourishes. Yes, some of you also mention, that it is a method to cover for our laziness, lethargy, complacency et al. The empty plastic packets hanging from balconies in Kolkata; lowered for the vegetable vendor to sell his produce. Rather than going down and choosing fresh veggies, the plastic packet is lowered!
A number of innovations have been credited to the 'jugaad' mindset of Indians. (No wonder the R&D companies are smiling their way to the banks). When Mansukhbhai Prajapati makes his 'Mitti Cool' fridge, or Kunwer Sachdev makes 'Sukaam', the Jaipur Foot, or PADMAN Muruganatham's story. Each and every time we encounter a challenge we find a way out. Why, even the Mangalyaan's concept of 'catapault' was a jugaad .. who could've thought that the Mars Orbiter Mission could launch the satellite based on a concept of jugaad. Kamal Nath, in his book calls it a 'survival skill' which has emerged in the shortage economy. Could be! Prof Anil Gupta calls it 'Frugal Innovation' and has set up the Honeybee Network where he espouses that every obstacle becomes an opportunity.
On the podium, after me, walks up Mr. Rahul Verma of TestMile Software. An articulate, erudite speaker of repute. It has always been a pleasure to hear him on various forums. And in his gentle persuasive manner highlighted the damage 'jugaad' is ushering in the IT domain. Quick-fix solutions, patch-up jobs, short-cut solutions and an overall lack of application of minds leading to our Country losing out on some major International contracts. He went on to highlight the darker side of 'jugaad'. Jugaad is the enemy of Excellence and we tend to cut corners without finding a long-lasting solution. Our brilliance is, thus, applied in directions detrimental in the pursuit of excellence.
I've been thinking, a lot. Some of you, I am positive have loads to say on the subject. I seek your inputs to validate/ negate my thinking on the subject. Open to suggestions and views please.
Senior Consultant at LTIMindtree ( SAP Mfg )
5 年Dear Sir, I am also of same opinion with Mr. Rahul. Jugaad is enemy of excellence. Jugaad provides an ingenious solution to an issue or a problem but it is only a stop gap alternative. The leaders, innovators, designers and engineers should realize this notion and work upon the "jugaad" solution and make it a viable, marketable and standard alternative acceptable in respective industries.
A Student of Testing | Satirist | ??????????????
6 年Just came across this article, Col saa'b. Very well written and I appreciate the spirit behind this article. I know you mean well. I am going to express my own views in detail next week at STeP-IN as this is the primary topic of my presentation this time :-)
RETIRED BRIGADIER ( SENIOR CONSULTANT TELECOM/COMMUNICATION INTELLIGENCE, SECURITY,ADMINISTRATION OPERATIONS/ NGO & CSR OPERATIONS)
6 年Prabir, well articulated. However, I have always looked down upon the concept of JUGAD. I agree with Rahul in all respects. Innovation is the way forward, whereas? Jugad is a retro gate step. In service I did notice crude form of Jugad and they were a disaster in long run and very dangerous. Long back , when I was a youngster, had modified a? side carriage on Royal Enfield to save petrol. Moreover, I used a Vegetable Cart used in Army Kitchens issued by Ordnance for this purpose. Intially , every body appreciated my Jugad but one day it lost balance and came down the hill injuring three persons riding it. Any Jugad without R&D and quality control is going to fail and will end up a disaster. Your Government is required to pay for your quality equipment and weapons and not make soldiers resort to Jugad.?
Principal Consultant-Trainer
6 年Great topic. I love to speak on this too. Rahul has been good friend of mine, and we had had hearty conversations about lot of stuff. We feel alike in a lot of areas. However, this is one topic I disagree with his views. I've never spoken to him yet on it, but I'll when we meet next. Contrary to what most feel about it, Jugaad is a good thing whether it's in the field of software, medicine, education, food, anything. There are many different aspects about Jugaad that I like.? What makes? jugaad good/bad is its application. If it s applied with proper intent, at a place that's right and at the right time, it's always good. Jugaad can be magical, if solving problems is the intent, rather than closing out on issues. Many a times, Jugaad has helped me see my path, when I was at cross-roads and wondered which way to take.? It has helped me start walking, and not be directionless.? Not just start, but explore areas that I never knew existed. It has helped me gather confidence. It helped me think through problems. It helped me learn newer mechanisms to solve problems. Borrowing ideas from others (including other domains/industries) is a big thing when it comes to solving problems and doesn't come naturally to most of us, but Jugaad paves way for that.?? Simply put, I'm a great proponent of it.