TY - JOUR

T1 - The Objective-Conflict-Resolution Approach

T2 - A Novel Approach for Developing Radical and Frugal Innovation

AU - Weyrauch, Timo

AU - Herstatt, Cornelius

AU - Tietze, Frank

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 1988-2012 IEEE.

PY - 2021/6

Y1 - 2021/6

N2 - Despite the interest in frugal innovation, both in research and in business practice, little is known about methods, approaches, or procedures that specifically support the systematic development of frugal innovations. In this article, we propose a novel approach that can be applied for developing frugal innovations, which also appears to be suitable for developing radical innovations. We present one in-depth case study that shows how the approach can be applied for successful concept development of a frugal and even radical innovation. The study follows an exploratory action research method conducted in a U.S. engineering company over 19 months. The action research resulted in a novel approach that we call objective-conflict-resolution (OCR). Applying this approach in the company led to the development of a frugal innovation - for which a patent application was submitted - that is significantly less expensive, requires fewer resources, and offers greater ease-of-use than previous solutions. The OCR approach has two main advantages over existing approaches. It can be applied for developing frugal and radical innovations when established approaches result in rather incremental solutions (such as value engineering) and is less complex and easier to implement than existing approaches that are deliberately used for developing radical solutions (such as TRIZ).

AB - Despite the interest in frugal innovation, both in research and in business practice, little is known about methods, approaches, or procedures that specifically support the systematic development of frugal innovations. In this article, we propose a novel approach that can be applied for developing frugal innovations, which also appears to be suitable for developing radical innovations. We present one in-depth case study that shows how the approach can be applied for successful concept development of a frugal and even radical innovation. The study follows an exploratory action research method conducted in a U.S. engineering company over 19 months. The action research resulted in a novel approach that we call objective-conflict-resolution (OCR). Applying this approach in the company led to the development of a frugal innovation - for which a patent application was submitted - that is significantly less expensive, requires fewer resources, and offers greater ease-of-use than previous solutions. The OCR approach has two main advantages over existing approaches. It can be applied for developing frugal and radical innovations when established approaches result in rather incremental solutions (such as value engineering) and is less complex and easier to implement than existing approaches that are deliberately used for developing radical solutions (such as TRIZ).

KW - Conceptual tools for management of technology

KW - frugal engineering

KW - frugal innovation

KW - implementation methodologies and project management

KW - management of innovation

KW - management of new technologies

KW - new product development

KW - new service development

KW - process improvement

KW - product design

KW - product innovations

KW - project and R&D management

KW - R&D management

KW - radical innovation

KW - technology management

KW - technology management framework

KW - Management studies

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85089287571&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1109/TEM.2020.3000924

DO - 10.1109/TEM.2020.3000924

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:85089287571

VL - 68

SP - 699

EP - 712

JO - IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management

JF - IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management

SN - 0018-9391

IS - 3

M1 - 9144377

ER -