Instrumental Lives is an account of instrument making at the cutting edge of contemporary science and technology in a modern Indian scientific laboratory. For a period of roughly two-and-half decades, starting the late 1980s, a research group headed by CV Dharmadhikari in the physics department at the Savitribai Phule University, Pune, fabricated a range of scanning tunnelling and scanning force microscopes including the earliest such microscopes made in the country. Not only were these instruments made entirely in-house, research done using them was published in the world's leading peer reviewed journals, and students who made and trained on them went on to become top class scientists in premier institutions. The book uses qualitative research methods such as open-ended interviews, historical analysis and laboratory ethnography that are standard in Science and Technology Studies (STS), to present the micro-details of this instrument making enterprise, the counter-intuitive methods employed, and the unexpected material, human and intellectual resources that were mobilised in the process. It locates scientific research and innovation within the social, political and cultural context of a laboratory's physical location and asks important questions of the dominant narratives of innovation that remain fixated on quantitative metrics of publishing, patenting and generating commerce. The book is a story as much of the lives of instruments and their deaths as it is of the instrumentalities that make those lives possible and allow them to live on, even if with a rather precarious existence.

Introduction : An asynchronic timeline -- Ephemeral infrastructures -- The financial sublime -- Drawing fantasies -- The industry of sound -- Inside the pit -- Concrete love -- Conclusion : Inquilab zindabad -- Appendix : list of masterplans affecting gurgaon.

Saying No to Jugaad is a riveting account of how the start-up ecosystem in India evolved rapidly in the last 10 years. Ushering in a new turn in the country's economy that shook up existing ways of doing business, start-ups brought together investors and a rare breed of entrepreneurs to create a set of unicorns focused, for the first time, on solving the country's problems. The book busts some of the common myths around e-commerce businesses and describes the evolution of grocery as the mother of all categories in this sector. It also is the story of how start-ups go through different distinct stages as they evolve and mature. The courage needed to hold your ground when the world seems to have a contrarian view, the relentless focus on customer centricity and the emphasis on foundation-building are illustrated through lucid and stirring stories. Entertaining and anecdotal, the book is not a panegyric about the founders or the company but is the story of real people and a real company with real flaws but also several great ideas and moments. Saying No to Jugaad vividly captures the vision, culture and commitment to values which has made Bigbasket one of India's most successful start-ups.

"Jugaad Innovation is the most comprehensive book yet to appear on the subject [of frugal innovation]." —The Economist A frugal and flexible approach to innovation for the 21st century Innovation is a key directive at companies worldwide. But in these tough times, we can't rely on the old formula that has sustained innovation efforts for decades—expensive R&D projects and highly-structured innovation processes. Jugaad Innovation argues the West must look to places like India, Brazil, and China for a new approach to frugal and flexible innovation. The authors show how in these emerging markets, jugaad (a Hindi word meaning an improvised solution born from ingenuity and cleverness) is leading to dramatic growth and how Western companies can adopt jugaad innovation to succeed in our hypercompetitive world. Outlines the six principles of jugaad innovation: Seek opportunity in adversity, do more with less, think and act flexibly, keep it simple, include the margin, and follow your heart Features twenty case studies on large corporations from around the world—Google, Facebook, 3M, Apple, Best Buy, GE, IBM, Nokia, Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, Tata Group, and more—that are actively practicing jugaad innovation The authors blog regularly at Harvard Business Review; their work has been profiled in BusinessWeek, MIT Sloan Management Review, The Financial Times, The Economist, and more Filled with previously untold and engaging stories of resourceful jugaad innovators and entrepreneurs in emerging markets and the United States This groundbreaking book shows leaders everywhere why the time is right for jugaad to emerge as a powerful business tool in the West—and how to bring jugaad practices to their organizations.

This Handbook focuses on techno-entrepreneurial ecosystems under several different aspects: how the ecosystems have evolved in techno-entrepreneurship, the influence that techno-entrepreneurs can have on complex ecosystems such as regions and nations, and the new types of innovations that techno-entrepreneurs are pursuing to adapt to the ecosystems, such as frugal innovation.

The Great India Story by a respected international journalistSince independence in 1947, India has muddled through, turning confusion and adversity into varying degrees of success. From his experience and perspective as both a business and political correspondent, John Elliott examines how this came to be. At a time when there is a widespread clamour for change and for a new form of politics, he looks at how corruption has eaten into all aspects of Indian life and questions the decades of rule by the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, and suggests democracy provides a smokescreen for much that is wrong. He explores the impact of liberalization, traces the build-up of social unrest over corruption, women's rights, and the exploitation of land and the poor. He also reflects on the limitations of a hesitant foreign policy and looks in detail at why India's defence forces are so depleted.At the heart of the problem, he argues, is the 'quick fix' attitude known as 'jugaad' and the laissez faire acceptance of 'chalta hai' that together have eaten into the social and political fabric and heavily influence what India is, and is not, today. He uncovers a secrets 'M document' that mapped out the 1991 reforms, and reveals how was an unwitting spectator at a Pakistan briefing meeting for the 1991 Kargil war.Incisive and ambitious in its attempt to gather together the many strands that make up a controversial India narrative, Implosion is a timely contribution to the debate on nationhood,development, the exercise of power, people's rights and the changing demographics of a country facing a Tryst with Reality.

A Social Enterprise Venture (SEV) is defined as an organization, initiative or startup that has a strong social innovation characteristic focusing on a scalable and sustainable social wealth creation or sustainable living at the individual or community level. Most books that deal with SEVs, unfortunately still focus on non-profits. Current market trends indicate non-profits need more sustainable funding mechanisms for survival. This book focuses on the growing need to build a business with purpose.With the growing role of the private sector in the development arena, as highlighted by the UN Sustainable Development Goals, all firms need to relook entrepreneurship from a 'business-with-purpose' lens. The fact that venture capitalists/private equity firms are acquiring social ventures (like Bain Capital and TOMS), or that SEVs are being divested (L'Oreal and Body Shop), reinforces the need to understand which business models work. One of the biggest barriers for growth of SEVs is scalability and internationalization. This book fills the present gap between research and practice; and the non-profits and for-profit worlds.