Fifty years ago a marvelous methodology for searching and solving complicated creative innovations problems that have no solution algorithm was created by Genrich S. Altshuller [1] in the former Soviet Union. Its name is the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving or TRIZ from the Russian acronym (pronounced "trees").
Altshuller began from systematically studies and catalogues of patents looking for principles of innovation. Whereas psychology and neurophysiology study thinking mechanisms (like cortex processes) and logic studies thinking forms and laws, TRIZ studies the technical systems themselves and their development laws and sources, the ways of solving contradictions in the technical systems using, undoubtedly, the results of engineering and other natural sciences as well as psychology, logic, and creativity . Right now Altshuller's school in the former Soviet Union accumulate the knowledge from more than 1,500,000 worldwide patents analysis. The TRIZ theoretical basis are the objective (independent of human beings) laws of the development of technical systems that can be studied and used for effective solving both technical and non-technical creative problems.
The idea of TRIZ is as follows: "If the conditions of a inventive problem do not violate the laws of nature, this problem can be solved by different ways, some of them lead to strong solutions." TRIZ provides the tools for making so-called "strong" solutions, i.e., inventive solutions that provide effective development of the system under considerations usually far ahead the competitors.
TRIZ operates with three main concepts: evolution, contradiction and ideality.
The CONTRADICTION is the interaction of mutually exclusive demands to the same object. Improving one of the system parameters cannot deteriorate other parameters.
For example, if the wing area of a plane is large, the plane can take off easily, but under supersonic speed flight conditions head resistance will be in-admissibly high. The principle of TRIZ is as follows: no "either...or", but "and...and". It must be good for "both parties". The plane with retractable wings takes off easily and flies good.
The patents analysis show that all technical systems have the same EVOLUTION stages. This leads to a possibility for the technological forecasting to design next generations of products and perspective extensions of the current goods [2].
Among dozen technical systems development laws, the principal one is the law of IDEALITY increasing. In other words, this is the law of increasing the degree of human needs satisfaction. The ideal technical system, according to TRIZ ideology, is a technical system which is absent from all of its functions being fulfilled. For example, surgeons use thin needles and threads for suturing thin vessels. However, a thread twist in the eye of a needle damages delicate vessels. What is to be done? The contradiction is as follows: there must be a held to puncture the wall of a vessel and stretch out a thread, but the tissue is inadmissible damaged under the circumstances. The ideal solution: there is no needle but all of its functions are being fulfilled. A needle with its tip metallized has been offered. All technical systems have resources for their improvement and for reducing production costs and ones connected with getting into marketing.
Modern TRIZ [1,2] offers hundred powerful methods, techniques and ways for solving creative innovation problems such as the standard solutions, substance/field analysis, algorithm for solving inventive problems, lists of physical, chemical, geometrical and biological effects, 1500-cell matrix for resolution of engineering contradictions, and others.
A simplified algorithm for solving inventive problems includes the following steps: realize a problem, formulate a contradiction, formulate an ideal solution, find resources for its solution, determine the "strength" of the solutions and choose the best one, analyze the solution process ("learn a lesson"), prevent similar problems, predict development of technical systems considered within the problem. Real algorithm has about 100 steps and recently the software that realizes this algorithm is developed.
To compare with well-known methods, like brainstorming, TRIZ provides an opportunity to resolve problems more quickly and get strong solutions. Different TRIZ courses for engineers, inventors, school and college students are designed. TRIZ offers a powerful revolutionary knowledge-based analytical methodology for inventors based on the huge human experience in inventing that overcomes basic technical contradictions step by step to achieve breakthrough concepts. Engineering productivity and invention's efficiency have increased in many times thanks to TRIZ experts.
References:
[1]. G. S. Altshuller. Creativity as an Exact Science: The Theory of the Solution of Inventive Problems. New York: Gordon and Breach, 1984.
[2]. S. D. Savransky and C. Stephan TRIZ: Methodology of Inventive Problem Solving, The Industrial Physicist, December 1996.