We are likely to see the reverse innovation phenomenon in a wide range of industries such as ultra-low-cost transportation, renewable energy, clean water, micro finance, affordable health, low-cost housing, and many others.

FORBES: Reverse Innovation and the Myth of Cannibalization

Dell was late to adopt the souped-up low-cost chips of Advanced Micro Devices (nyse: AMD - news - people ), missed out on mobile computing and failed to put up any new products or applications with pizzazz.

FORBES: The Second Coming

Dell was late to adopt the souped-up, low-cost chips of Advanced Micro Devices (nyse: AMD - news - people ), missed out on mobile computing and failed to put up any new products or applications with real pizzazz.

FORBES: On The Cover/Top Stories

Dell was late to adopt the souped-up low-cost chips of Advanced Micro Devices , missed out on mobile computing and failed to put up any new products or applications with pizzazz.

FORBES: The Second Coming

In fact, some micro-apartments can be downright cool while being cost effective.

FORBES: 8 Amazingly-Tiny Micro-Apartments

While the amount of savings can differ greatly for a renter of a micro-unit versus a small-home owner, cost-effectiveness is definitely part of the equation in both models.

CNN: Tiny homes hit the big city

This micro view of customer economics provides a foundation for cost-benefit analysis of investment decisions aimed at building stronger customer relationships.

FORBES: Calculating The Economics Of Loyalty

Micro-greens--mini arugula, fennel and spinach--cost twice as much as full-sized greens, and they were a hit at high-end eateries during the salad days of the last economic boom.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Meanwhile, Saint Louis University's part-time program launched a micro-scholarship program last year: Students can apply to have the cost of one course remitted by the school so they can stay enrolled.

WSJ: Part-Time M.B.A. Programs Lend Students a Hand in Hard Times