DESIGN DRIVEN INNOVATION – MINIMUM VIABLE PRODUCTS FOR LOCAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NEPAL
Year: 2015
Editor: Christian Weber, Stephan Husung, Gaetano Cascini, Marco CantaMESsa, Dorian Marjanovic, Francesca Montagna
Author: Keitsch, Martina Maria
Series: ICED
Institution: Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
Section: Innovation and Creativity
Page(s): 151-160
ISBN: 978-1-904670-71-1
ISSN: 2220-4334
Abstract
Well-designed products and services link to the ability of designers of interpreting needs, but they often struggle getting valuable contributions from users when developing innovative products and services. Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) address this problem through a practice of connected leaning and development. MVPs are useful to test the utility of a product before making efforts to improve its usability and desirability. In this article, the value of the MVPs for a product development process is appraised within a case study on a local entrepreneurship project in Jharkot, Lower Mustang, Nepal. The case study shows that MVPs are not only interesting for mass-production or high-end design, but comprise a valuable tool for Micro- Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and frugal Innovation too. Among others, MVPs emphasize the importance of testing different prototypes, which is an interesting onset for future research on collaborative knowledge generation and co-operative decision-making between stakeholders.
Keywords: Design Methods, Minimum Viable Products, Prototypes, Local Entrepreneurship, Stakeholder Collaboration