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Potential and Pitfalls of Frugal Innovation in the Water Sector: Insights from Tanzania to Global Value Chains

Author

Listed:
  • Anne Hyvärinen

    (Water & Development Research Group, Aalto University, P.O. Box 15200, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland)

  • Marko Keskinen

    (Water & Development Research Group, Aalto University, P.O. Box 15200, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland)

  • Olli Varis

    (Water & Development Research Group, Aalto University, P.O. Box 15200, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland)

Abstract

Water is perhaps the most intertwined, and basic, resource on our planet. Nevertheless, billions face water-related challenges, varying from lack of water and sanitation services to hindrances on livelihoods and socio-economic activities. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) recognize the broad role that water has for development, and also call for the private sector to participate in solving these numerous development challenges. This study looks into the potential of frugal innovations as a means for the private sector to engage in water-related development challenges. Our findings, based on a case study and literature review, indicate that frugal innovations have potential in this front due to their focus on affordable, no-frills solutions. However, we also recognize pitfalls related to frugal innovations in the water sector. Although the innovations would, in principle, be sustainable, deficiencies related to scale and institutional structures may emerge. These deficiencies are linked to the importance of water in a variety of processes, both natural and manmade, as well as to the complexity of global production-consumption value chains. Increasing the innovations’ sustainability impact requires broader acknowledgement of the underlying value chains and their diverse links with water. A holistic view on water can mitigate water-related business risks while increasing wellbeing on an individual level.

Suggested Citation

  • Anne Hyvärinen & Marko Keskinen & Olli Varis, 2016. "Potential and Pitfalls of Frugal Innovation in the Water Sector: Insights from Tanzania to Global Value Chains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(9), pages 1-16, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:8:y:2016:i:9:p:888-:d:77319
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Krohn, Malte & Herstatt, Cornelius, 2018. "The question of a frugal mindset in Western MNCs: Exploring an emerging phenomenon with a systematic literature review," Working Papers 103, Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Institute for Technology and Innovation Management.
    2. Sarkar, Soumodip & Mateus, Sara, 2022. "Value creation using minimal resources – A meta-synthesis of frugal innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    3. Stephanie D. Maier & Tabea Beck & Javier Francisco Vallejo & Rafael Horn & Jan-Hendrik Söhlemann & Trung Thanh Nguyen, 2016. "Methodological Approach for the Sustainability Assessment of Development Cooperation Projects for Built Innovations Based on the SDGs and Life Cycle Thinking," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-26, October.
    4. Andrea Celone & Antonello Cammarano & Mauro Caputo & Francesca Michelino, 2022. "Features of Sustainability-Oriented Innovations: A Content Analysis of Patent Abstracts," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-16, November.
    5. Achtelik, Timo & Herstatt, Cornelius & Tiwari, Rajnish, 2022. "Frugal sustainability: A new perspective to foster corporate sustainability," Working Papers 112, Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Institute for Technology and Innovation Management, revised 2022.
    6. Maria Federica Cordova & Andrea Celone, 2019. "SDGs and Innovation in the Business Context Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-14, December.
    7. Howell, Rachel & van Beers, Cees & Doorn, Neelke, 2018. "Value capture and value creation: The role of information technology in business models for frugal innovations in Africa," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 227-239.
    8. Zhenfeng Liu & Jian Feng & Jinfeng Wang, 2020. "Resource-Constrained Innovation Method for Sustainability: Application of Morphological Analysis and TRIZ Inventive Principles," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-23, January.
    9. Jacek Woźniak & Wioletta Sylwia Wereda, 2023. "Shaping Frugal Innovation Processes, and Ensuring Security and Sustainable Development of Enterprises in the Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-22, February.
    10. Octaviano Rojas Luiz & Enzo Barberio Mariano & Hermes Moretti Ribeiro da Silva, 2021. "Pro-Poor Innovations to Promote Instrumental Freedoms: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-22, December.

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