The condition wherein contradictory (or paradox or oxymoron or discrepancy in other terms) requirements are placed upon some technological system.
Three types of contradictions were recognized by G. S. Altshuller:
- Administrative: a puzzle situation often connected with an economy demand;
- Technical: an improvement in one desired characteristic of a system results in the deterioration of another;
- Physical: some elements of a system is subject to two opposite requirements.
Specials tools for resolution of these contradictions are developed
in TRIZ (see a lesson for Hands-On TRIZ
Course)