The five paths to identify reverse innovation possibilities..

Reverse Innovation comes up with innovative thought processes and products which have been necessitated either through constraints in the work environments, economic structures, socio-political sytems and the like.

The easy steps to identify opportunities for reverse innovation are given in this picture. when one looks at a product or process which invites reverse innovation thinking, think broadly in these five areas, one is sure to find an opportunity to reverse innovate the product or process.

The perspective is from the developing world and not a developed world.

1. Performance gap - how do you think the way you are getting things done presently could be improved. The performance which one enjoys in the developed world comes at a cost which is unaffordable for the people from the developing world. Naturally they would look at ways and means by which the same function or end use (PERFORMANCE) could be achieved by thinking up different products, processes, raw materials etc..

2. Infrastructure gap - Are the same set of physical infrastructure attainable for the people from the developing world ? If it is in the case of transportation, or energy or storage of perishable and non-perishable items, how can thi sgap be levelled by thinking of an alternative idea or product or process ..

3. Sustainability gap - Are the products, processes we use in our society helping the environment or damaging it. What can we do to help the environment ?

4. Regulatory gap - The government in many developing countries come up with regulations that can hamper the growth of industries in the country. These regulations may not exist in other countries. So identify those areas or gaps where one can think of bringing about some improvement that can help ease the regulatory environment in the country.

5. Preference gap - Very frequently we come across setups where one is unaware of the preferences for certain products or processes in certain countries either through culture or habits or geographical necessities or habits over centuries in developed economies. When one can propose a different approach to developing products, ideas or processes which are deviating from the existing preferences, it leads to reverse innovation.

These gaps give a definite direction to any reverse innovation activity or initiative in a developing country.

george..