S.S.A ZAIDI
saiyidzaidi@gmail.com
09987644300
Is Jugaad our most precious resource or is it bleeding us is a topic of debate?
One school of thought looks at Jugaad as a management technique that promotes out of box thinking therefore it is a precious resource and advocates its development as an innovation tool that the managers to be encouraged to use.
The other school rubbishes it as irregular and slapdash, therefore , an unethical and manipulative practice that must be discouraged.
Let us examine these viewpoints criticallyJugaad is an Indian management technique. In common parlance it means finding alternative ways of doing things despite lack of resources. It signifies an individual?s ability to use the available resources in the best possible way without asking for additional resources it is inventiveness, it is ingenuity, and it is cleverness. It is an unconventional but innovative method. It is creative improvisation. A Manger's efficiency lies in how best he can manage within the constraints of resources to realize the set objectives.
However the term Jugaad is also pejoratively/negatively referred to as a practice that bends the rules or cuts corners to arrive at solutions. 'Somehow, get it done,' even if it involves breaking the rules/regulation is considered the norm of this technique. . This negative connotation associated with Jugaad admittedly makes it seem immoral and unethical.
The ability to improvise and find ways around prohibitive rules and institutions, is important to business success?
The question is, should a technique manipulated by some to circumvent the legal /regulatory requirements be labeled as unethical. Traffic rules are violated, that's a punishable act. Violation is illegal but not the rules. Prescribed rules /regulations/legal provisions are subverted, subversion is unlawful but not the subverted laws/regulations. Similarly Jugaad, a management technique that encourages out of box thinking and creative improvisation does not become unethical only because it has been used for some unlawful purpose.
The operation of Hawala and Mumbai dabbawalas stand out as unique Jugaad products Hawala has been found a very efficient and cost effective method of funds transfer but only because the system has been manipulated to be used for money laundering does not make the system unethical. Breakers of law always find ways to circumvent the legal /regulatory boundaries .To make the system more transparent central banks in some countries have given legal sanction to Hawala practice. . Hawala operators are licensed to operate subject to compliance of certain conditions.
The operation of the Mumbai Dabbawallas (carriers of lunch boxes) is an old logistical system. It has been in effective operation for about more than hundred years It involves collection and delivery of a large number of Tiffin Boxes. Tiffin boxes are collected from every nook and corner of the metropolis and delivered to the right persons before their lunch time and then again collected and returned to the respective individual homes,. There is no documentation .Simple color code determines the Tiffin routing, sorting and prioritizing to central points as Tiffin's transfer from train to bicycle to foot.
The system involves routing and sorting how do they achieve with zero documentation is amazing indeed.
Can Do Attitude, with no ifs and buts, the best use of the available resources and be Frugal, but spend wisely are the hall marks of this technique.
I understand the courses taught at Hyderabad's Indian School of Business includes jugaad.
The Indian philosophy of Jugaad is a tribute to native genius, Companies in all parts of the world can learn from it and make it work for them, too. This technique needs to be developed and polished ensuring that the virus of corruption does not enter its precincts.
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