Crooked Minds

Category Business & Economics
Format Hardback
Imprint Rupa
Price 395

ISBN: 978-81-291-4452-2
Pages: 220 pages
Date: December 2016

ABOUT THIS BOOK

Innovation is now a key goal for organizations and governments, a sure recipe for growth, success and often, survival. But what is innovation? Is it the same as improvisation? And how does jugaad fit into the definition of innovation? Innovation ranges from invention based on cutting-edge technological research to the makeshift jugaad vehicle; from new products to improvisations in music. It has different facets, depending upon one’s perspective, rather like the fable of the five blind men and the elephant, each of whom draws his own conclusion depending upon the part of the elephant he touches.

This book looks at the idea of innovation, its relevance for companies in today’s day and age, whether innovation leads to concrete benefits or not, and why it is necessary for organizations, governments and even individuals to constantly innovate.

AUTHOR OF THE BOOK

Kiran Karnik describes himself as a ‘public un-intellectual’, a non-academic with a strong interest in public policy and strategy. His last job was as President of NASSCOMM, the association of India’s IT industry. Now, he spends most of his time with educational and civil-society organizations. His career also includes over two decades in India’s space programme, followed by a decade in ‘meaningful’ TV (educational TV and Discovery Channel).

Over the last few decades, he has served on many key and high-level government committees. These include the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister and the National Innovation Council.

He writes regularly for various publications.