TRIZ For Dummies

1. TRIZ: A systematic approach to innovative problem-solving

TRIZ is more than just a theory, it's a practical toolkit, a method, a set of processes and even a bit of a philosophy to help you understand and solve problems in clever ways.

Developed by Genrich Altshuller, TRIZ (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving) is a powerful methodology for systematic innovation. It's based on the analysis of millions of patents, identifying patterns in how inventive solutions are created across various fields. The core philosophy of TRIZ is that:

• Problems and solutions follow certain patterns
• These patterns can be identified and reapplied across different domains
• Innovation can be taught and learned systematically

TRIZ provides a set of tools and processes that help problem-solvers:

• Identify the root causes of problems
• Uncover hidden resources
• Generate innovative solutions
• Predict future developments in technology

By learning and applying TRIZ, individuals and organizations can significantly enhance their problem-solving capabilities and foster a culture of innovation.

2. Uncovering and resolving contradictions for breakthrough solutions

When you have a contradiction, you have a conflict; for example, 'I want a refrigerator that holds lots of food but takes up very little space in my kitchen'.

Contradictions are at the heart of TRIZ. They represent situations where improving one aspect of a system seems to worsen another. TRIZ identifies two types of contradictions:

1. Technical Contradictions: When improving one parameter leads to the deterioration of another
2. Physical Contradictions: When a system requires opposite states simultaneously

The 40 Inventive Principles, a core TRIZ tool, provide strategies for resolving these contradictions. By systematically applying these principles, problem-solvers can:

• Break free from traditional trade-offs
• Generate innovative solutions that satisfy seemingly conflicting requirements
• Transform apparent limitations into opportunities for breakthrough innovations

Examples of contradiction resolution:

• Collapsible umbrella (big when needed, small for storage)
• Noise-cancelling headphones (blocking external noise while allowing desired sounds)
• Self-cleaning glass (maintaining cleanliness without manual effort)

3. Leveraging resources and increasing ideality for elegant solutions

If you can get something you want (a benefit) without adding anything to your system, you improve your Ideality.

Ideality is a fundamental TRIZ concept that drives innovation towards more efficient and effective solutions. It's defined by the ratio:

Ideality = (Sum of Benefits) / (Sum of Costs + Sum of Harms)

To increase ideality, TRIZ encourages:

• Maximizing benefits
• Minimizing costs and harmful effects
• Utilizing existing resources in creative ways

Key strategies for increasing ideality:

• Identify and leverage "free" resources in the system or environment
• Transform harmful effects into useful functions
• Eliminate unnecessary components while maintaining functionality

Examples of high-ideality solutions:

• Solar-powered devices (using free environmental energy)
• Self-healing materials (reducing maintenance costs)
• Multifunctional products (increasing benefits without proportional cost increase)

By focusing on ideality, problem-solvers can create elegant, resource-efficient solutions that outperform traditional approaches.

4. Applying the Trends of Technical Evolution for future-focused innovation

The Trends of Technical Evolution are one of the most exciting and easy-to-use tools in TRIZ. Anyone who has to develop new products or services will find them both incredibly powerful and useful, as they help predict the future of technical systems.

TRIZ identifies patterns in how systems evolve over time, allowing innovators to anticipate future developments and guide their innovation efforts. The eight main Trends of Technical Evolution are:

1. Increasing Ideality
2. Non-uniform Development of System Parts
3. Transition to the Super-system
4. Increasing Dynamism and Controllability
5. Increasing Complexity, followed by Simplification
6. Matching and Mismatching of Parts
7. Transition from Macro to Micro Level
8. Decreasing Human Involvement

By understanding these trends, innovators can:

• Predict the next stages of product or system development
• Identify opportunities for breakthrough innovations
• Avoid investing in soon-to-be-obsolete technologies
• Create roadmaps for long-term product evolution

Examples of trend application:

• Transition from mechanical to electronic systems
• Miniaturization in electronics (from vacuum tubes to integrated circuits)
• Increasing automation in various industries

5. Breaking psychological inertia with TRIZ creativity tools

Psychological inertia is the TRIZ term for being stuck in a particular way of thinking.

Overcoming mental barriers is crucial for innovation. TRIZ provides several tools to help break psychological inertia and stimulate creative thinking:

1. Smart Little People: Imagining a system composed of tiny intelligent beings to gain new perspectives
2. Size-Time-Cost: Considering extreme variations in size, time, and resources to generate novel ideas
3. 9-Windows: Analyzing a system across different scales and time frames to identify new opportunities

Benefits of breaking psychological inertia:

• Generating a wider range of potential solutions
• Challenging assumptions and conventional wisdom
• Discovering non-obvious resources and opportunities

Practical tips for applying TRIZ creativity tools:

• Encourage wild ideas initially, without judgment
• Combine ideas from different perspectives
• Use analogies from unrelated fields to spark new thinking

By systematically applying these tools, problem-solvers can overcome mental blocks and generate truly innovative solutions.

6. Function Analysis: Simplifying complex problems for clarity

Function Analysis is the most powerful tool I know for defining and therefore truly understanding problems.

Function Analysis breaks down complex systems into simple interactions between components, providing a clear and structured view of how a system works. Key elements of Function Analysis include:

1. Identifying system components and their interactions
2. Describing interactions as Subject-Action-Object relationships
3. Classifying actions as useful, harmful, insufficient, or excessive

Benefits of Function Analysis:

• Revealing hidden problems and opportunities
• Facilitating communication between team members with diverse backgrounds
• Providing a foundation for applying other TRIZ tools

Steps in performing Function Analysis:

1. List all system components
2. Identify interactions between components
3. Create a Function Model diagram
4. Analyze the model to identify areas for improvement

By simplifying complex problems through Function Analysis, innovators can focus their efforts on the most critical aspects of a system and generate more effective solutions.

7. Trimming: Creating more with less for cost-effective solutions

Trimming is the TRIZ way of making your system better by removing things while keeping all the useful actions.

Trimming is a powerful TRIZ technique for simplifying systems while maintaining or improving functionality. The core principle is to eliminate components while transferring their useful functions to other parts of the system or its environment.

Key benefits of Trimming:

• Reducing costs and complexity
• Improving reliability and maintainability
• Stimulating innovative thinking by challenging assumptions

The Trimming process involves asking:

1. Is this component necessary?
2. Can another component perform its function?
3. Can the function be eliminated or its need reduced?
4. Can a resource in the environment perform the function?

Examples of successful Trimming:

• Cordless electric kettles (eliminating the cord while maintaining heating function)
• Bagless vacuum cleaners (removing the need for disposable bags)
• Digital cameras (eliminating film and chemical processing)

By systematically applying Trimming, innovators can create elegantly simple and cost-effective solutions that outperform more complex alternatives.

8. The TRIZ problem-solving process: A logical path to innovation

The most important thing you need to know about the TRIZ process for solving problems is that it's possible to have a process!

TRIZ provides a structured approach to problem-solving, guiding innovators through a series of logical steps from problem identification to solution implementation. The core stages of the TRIZ problem-solving process are:

1. Problem definition and scoping
2. Contradiction identification
3. Ideal Final Result formulation
4. Resource analysis
5. Solution generation using TRIZ tools
6. Solution evaluation and refinement
7. Implementation planning

Benefits of following the TRIZ process:

• Ensuring thorough problem analysis before jumping to solutions
• Leveraging the most appropriate TRIZ tools for each situation
• Facilitating team collaboration and communication

Tips for effective TRIZ problem-solving:

• Start with a clear problem statement
• Use Function Analysis to gain system understanding
• Apply multiple TRIZ tools to generate diverse solution concepts
• Iterate through the process to refine and improve solutions

By following this systematic process, innovators can tackle complex problems more effectively and consistently generate innovative solutions.

9. Overcoming common pitfalls in TRIZ implementation

Don't wait for a problem to come along that seems to match the TRIZ process perfectly.

Avoiding common mistakes is crucial for successful TRIZ implementation. Some key pitfalls to be aware of include:

1. Thinking TRIZ doesn't apply to your field
2. Waiting for the "perfect" problem to start using TRIZ
3. Tackling problems that are too large or complex initially
4. Not involving key stakeholders in the problem-solving process
5. Trying to solve problems without sufficient domain knowledge
6. Giving up too soon when facing challenges

Strategies for successful TRIZ implementation:

• Start with smaller, manageable problems to build confidence
• Apply TRIZ to real, current issues rather than hypothetical scenarios
• Involve diverse team members to leverage different perspectives
• Combine TRIZ with existing problem-solving approaches in your organization
• Be persistent and iterate through the process multiple times

By being aware of these potential pitfalls and actively working to avoid them, organizations can more effectively integrate TRIZ into their innovation processes and reap its benefits.

10. Practical tips for getting started with TRIZ

Nothing's as good as putting TRIZ into practice!

Implementing TRIZ effectively requires practice and persistence. Here are some practical tips for getting started:

1. Learn the basics: Familiarize yourself with core TRIZ concepts and tools
2. Start small: Apply TRIZ to simple, everyday problems to build confidence
3. Join a TRIZ community: Connect with other practitioners for support and idea exchange
4. Attend workshops: Participate in hands-on training to deepen your understanding
5. Use TRIZ language: Incorporate TRIZ concepts into your daily problem-solving discussions
6. Find a TRIZ buddy: Partner with a colleague to practice and discuss TRIZ applications
7. Be persistent: Don't give up if your first attempts don't yield immediate results

Ways to integrate TRIZ into your work:

• Use the Ideal Final Result concept in project planning meetings
• Apply the 40 Inventive Principles to brainstorming sessions
• Conduct Function Analysis on existing products or processes to identify improvement opportunities

Remember that becoming proficient in TRIZ takes time and practice. By consistently applying these tips and gradually expanding your use of TRIZ tools, you can develop a powerful set of innovation skills that will serve you throughout your career.

Last updated: July 21, 2024