Pbacsich: added TLT Group specifics

2009-07-31T11:34:45Z

added TLT Group specifics

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	In e-learning circles, ''frugal innovation'' is a term recently popularised by the [[TLT Group]] to denote an approach to innovation		In e-learning circles, ''frugal innovation'' is a term recently popularised by the [[TLT Group]] to denote an approach to innovation characterised by very careful, insightful and economical use of resources, both human and material, when innovating courses.

			This is described in more detail in a [http://www.tltgroup.org/OLI/workshopINFO/symposium20090804.htm description of their online workshop] to be held in August 2009. Some examples include:

			* use of external "cloud computing" systems like Google's Gmail not just for recreational or social use but for direct pedagogic purposes
			* use of un-owned resources such as OER, with the concomitant issues of support and updating
			* use of handheld devices and more generally, devices owned by all or most students
			* future use of textbooks

Pbacsich: entry

2009-07-31T11:22:40Z

entry

New page

In e-learning circles, ''frugal innovation'' is a term recently popularised by the [[TLT Group]] to denote an approach to innovation

== More general meanings ==

The term is quite commonly used in countries such as [[India]] or [[China]] to describe a specific kind of innovation which takes great care to minimise costs of innovation and cost of final product.

The top hit currently on Google is an article on [http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/frugal-innovation/360886/ Frugal innovation] in ''Business Standard'' magazine of 31 July 2009, describing General Electric's technology centre in Bangalore. a "low-cost but cutting-edge facility".

In this context the approach is often called '''Frugal engineering''' - described as "the ability to manufacture low cost versions of goods for mass markets" in the 2009 article [http://icc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/18/2/209 Introduction: The internationalization of Chinese and Indian firms—trends, motivations and strategy] by Suma Athreye and Sandeep Kapur.

== Further reading ==

There is, unusually, no entry in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page Wikipedia] - except for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frugality frugality]. However, this does usefully list nine '''strategies for frugality''':

# the reduction of waste
# curbing costly habits
# suppressing instant gratification by means of fiscal self-restraint
# seeking efficiency
# avoiding traps
# defying expensive social norms
# embracing cost-free options
# using barter
# staying well-informed about local circumstances and both market and product/service realities.

It is left as an interesting exercise for the reader to apply these nine approaches to their own institution.

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> [[Glossary]]

[[Category:Definienda]]

Frugal innovation - Revision history

Pbacsich: added TLT Group specifics

Pbacsich: entry