TRIZ: The Theory of Inventive Problem Solving

Summary

In this lecture, Dmitry Plekhanov introduces TRIZ, the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving, developed by Russian engineer Genrikh Altshuller. TRIZ is a systematic approach to innovation, based on analyzing over 400,000 patents. It emphasizes that technological progress follows predictable patterns and can be approached systematically. The method involves four stages: identifying a problem, reducing it to essentials, finding a general solution from a vast database, and creating a specific solution. TRIZ also addresses technical and physical contradictions in product design, encouraging solutions without compromises. This structured approach enhances creativity and efficiency in innovation.

Takeaways

• 📚 TRIZ stands for 'Theory of Inventive Problem Solving' and originates from the Russian phrase 'теория решения изобретательских задач'.
• 🛠️ The TRIZ method was developed by Genrikh Altshuller after analyzing over 400,000 patents to identify principles behind successful inventions.
• 🌍 Over the last 30 years, TRIZ has been adopted by global companies like NASA, Mitsubishi, Ford Motors, and Samsung for faster and more efficient product design.
• 📈 TRIZ asserts that technological progress and innovation are governed by certain rules, making them predictable rather than random.
• 🧠 To become innovative, TRIZ recommends following a structured, systematic approach to problem-solving.
• 🔄 TRIZ problem-solving consists of four stages: identifying the problem, reducing it to its essentials, matching with a general solution, and creating a specific solution.
• ⚙️ TRIZ introduces technical contradictions, where improving one aspect of a system worsens another, such as increasing car speed but adding weight.
• 🌂 Physical contradictions arise when contradictory requirements, such as umbrella size and portability, need to be addressed.
• 💡 TRIZ helps identify effective solutions for current and future challenges, pushing innovation without compromise.
• 🚫 TRIZ emphasizes eliminating compromises between price and quality, suggesting that the best solutions avoid trade-offs.

Q & A

What does TRIZ stand for, and what is its origin?

TRIZ stands for 'Theory of Inventive Problem Solving' and originates from the Russian phrase 'теория решения изобретательских задач'. It was developed by Russian engineer Genrikh Altshuller, who analyzed over 400,000 patents to identify principles for successful inventions.

What is the main idea behind the TRIZ approach?

The main idea behind TRIZ is that technological progress and innovations are not random but follow specific rules. These rules can be predicted, and following a structured, systematic approach to problem-solving can lead to true innovation.

What are the four stages of the TRIZ problem-solving process?

The four stages of the TRIZ problem-solving process are: 1) Identifying the specific problem, 2) Reducing the problem to its essentials and presenting it in a TRIZ format, 3) Matching the problem with a general solution from the TRIZ database, and 4) Designing a specific solution based on the general solution to target the original problem.

What is a technical contradiction according to TRIZ?

A technical contradiction occurs when improving one aspect of a system leads to the worsening of another. An example is an engine designed to increase a car's speed, which can result in more weight, thus limiting the car's overall speed.

What is a physical contradiction in TRIZ?

A physical contradiction occurs when contradictory requirements exist for a product's physical properties. For instance, a large umbrella protects better from rain but becomes harder to carry, presenting a conflict between size and portability.

How does TRIZ help resolve contradictions in product development?

TRIZ provides structured methods for resolving contradictions by eliminating the need for trade-offs. Instead of accepting compromises, TRIZ encourages seeking solutions that can improve multiple aspects without diminishing others.

What types of organizations use TRIZ, and how does it benefit them?

Organizations like NASA, Mitsubishi, Ford Motors, and Samsung use TRIZ. It helps them design products more quickly and efficiently by following systematic innovation methods rather than relying on trial and error.

How does TRIZ view the relationship between technological progress and innovation?

TRIZ views technological progress and innovation as predictable processes governed by specific rules. By understanding these rules, innovators can foresee future advancements and create solutions in a structured, systematic way.

What role does TRIZ play in brainstorming and innovation processes?

TRIZ offers a structured framework for thinking and brainstorming, guiding innovators through systematic approaches to solving problems, identifying contradictions, and generating creative solutions.

What is the ultimate goal of TRIZ when applied to problem-solving?

The ultimate goal of TRIZ is to eliminate compromises and trade-offs in problem-solving, ensuring that solutions maximize both efficacy and efficiency without sacrificing quality or functionality.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 Introduction to TRIZ and Its Origins

This paragraph introduces the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving, or TRIZ, as developed by Russian engineer Genrikh Altshuller in 1946. TRIZ was created after analyzing over 400,000 patents to identify key principles for successful inventions. Today, TRIZ has become a global methodology used by organizations such as NASA, Mitsubishi, Ford Motors, and Samsung to innovate faster and more efficiently.

📚 Understanding TRIZ as a Structured Approach

This section emphasizes that TRIZ views technological progress and innovation as predictable processes governed by rules. By following structured and systematic approaches, individuals can become more innovative and creative. The TRIZ methodology for problem-solving is broken into four distinct stages: identifying a specific problem, reducing it to its essentials, finding a general solution from the TRIZ database, and designing a specific solution for the original problem.

🔧 TRIZ's Four-Stage Problem-Solving Process

Here, the four stages of TRIZ problem-solving are outlined. Stage 1 involves identifying the specific problem. Stage 2 reduces the problem to its core essentials. In Stage 3, a general problem is matched to a solution from the TRIZ database, which contains over 2,500 solutions. Finally, Stage 4 involves designing a specific solution based on the general solution to effectively address the original issue.

⚖️ Contradictions in Product Development

The paragraph introduces two key types of contradictions in product development as identified by TRIZ: technical and physical contradictions. A technical contradiction occurs when improving one aspect makes another worse, such as increasing engine power at the cost of speed due to weight. A physical contradiction arises when conflicting requirements are imposed on a product’s physical properties, such as an umbrella that needs to be big to protect from rain but small to carry around.

🛠️ The Role of TRIZ in Innovation

This section highlights the broader role TRIZ plays in fostering innovation. By providing a structured framework for brainstorming and problem-solving, TRIZ helps overcome challenges and eliminates compromises in product design. Instead of settling for trade-offs, TRIZ aims for the most effective solutions, which eliminate compromises between factors like price and quality.

👋 Conclusion and Final Thoughts on TRIZ

In the closing paragraph, the speaker encourages the audience not to accept compromises but to aim for complete elimination of contradictions. The most successful solutions, according to TRIZ, are those that don’t involve trade-offs. The speaker hopes the lecture was helpful and bids farewell with a Russian 'до свидания!' ('goodbye').

Keywords

💡TRIZ

TRIZ stands for the 'Theory of Inventive Problem Solving,' a methodology for systematic innovation. It originated from a Russian phrase 'теория решения изобретательских задач.' Developed by Genrikh Altshuller in 1946, TRIZ analyzes patents and successful inventions to identify common principles for solving problems. The video emphasizes how TRIZ has been adopted by multinational companies to drive faster, more efficient product development.

💡Genrikh Altshuller

Genrikh Altshuller was a Russian engineer who founded the TRIZ methodology after analyzing more than 400,000 patents to determine the principles behind successful inventions. He discovered that technological progress follows certain patterns, which can be applied systematically to solve problems. In the video, Altshuller's contribution to TRIZ is highlighted as the foundation of the theory.

💡Technical contradiction

A technical contradiction occurs when improving one aspect of a system causes another aspect to deteriorate. For example, increasing a car's engine speed might result in additional weight, limiting the car’s speed. In the video, technical contradictions are framed as common challenges in product development, which TRIZ aims to resolve through innovative solutions.

💡Physical contradiction

Physical contradictions involve conflicting requirements for physical properties in a product, such as size or material strength. An example from the video is a large umbrella that offers better rain protection but is cumbersome to carry. TRIZ provides a framework to solve these contradictions, often by eliminating the need for compromise.

💡Innovation

Innovation refers to the creation of new and effective solutions, especially in the context of technological systems. TRIZ is described as a structured approach that fosters innovation by predicting technological trends and resolving contradictions. The video stresses that innovation is not a random process but one that can be achieved systematically with the right tools.

💡TRIZ database

The TRIZ database is a collection of general problems and solutions that have been identified through the analysis of numerous patents. In the problem-solving process, a specific issue is translated into a general problem, which is then matched with a solution from the TRIZ database. The video mentions that there are over 2,500 solutions in the database, making it a vital resource for innovators.

💡Structured problem-solving

Structured problem-solving is a systematic approach to tackling issues, as promoted by TRIZ. It involves breaking down a specific problem, reducing it to its essentials, and matching it with a general solution from the TRIZ database. This concept is central to the video, which contrasts structured problem-solving with more random, intuitive methods.

💡Technological progress

Technological progress refers to the advancement and improvement of technology over time. The video explains that, according to TRIZ, this progress is not random but follows certain rules that can be predicted and applied to drive innovation. TRIZ helps companies and individuals stay ahead by identifying effective solutions to current and future technological challenges.

💡Contradictions

In TRIZ, contradictions refer to conflicts that arise during product development. These can be either technical (where improving one factor harms another) or physical (where contradictory requirements are imposed on physical properties). The video provides examples of both types and emphasizes TRIZ’s role in resolving contradictions without compromising.

💡No compromise

The phrase 'no compromise' in TRIZ signifies the goal of resolving contradictions completely, rather than accepting trade-offs between conflicting elements like price and quality. The video encourages innovators to aim for solutions that don't require sacrifices, highlighting that TRIZ offers the tools to achieve this ideal in product design and development.

Highlights

Introduction to TRIZ: 'Theory of Inventive Problem Solving' derived from Russian 'теория решения изобретательских задач'.

TRIZ origins: Developed in 1946 by Genrikh Altshuller after analyzing over 400,000 patents to discover innovation principles.

Global adoption: TRIZ has been used by companies like NASA, Mitsubishi, Ford Motors, and Samsung to enhance innovation.

Structured innovation: TRIZ posits that technological progress follows predictable rules and can be systematically achieved.

Four stages of TRIZ problem-solving: (1) Identify the specific problem, (2) Reduce it to essentials, (3) Match with general solutions, (4) Develop specific solution.

Stage 1: Identifying your specific problem is crucial but more challenging than it appears.

Stage 2: Problems are reduced to essentials and represented in TRIZ’s general problem format.

Stage 3: General problems are matched with over 2,500 general solutions in the TRIZ database.

Stage 4: Conceptual solutions are transformed into specific solutions that address the original problem efficiently.

TRIZ helps address contradictions: A technical contradiction occurs when solving one problem makes another aspect worse.

Technical contradiction example: A car engine designed for speed increases weight, which then limits speed.

Physical contradiction example: A larger umbrella provides more protection from rain but is harder to carry.

TRIZ provides a structured framework for brainstorming, making it a tool for driving better innovation.

No compromises: TRIZ encourages eliminating trade-offs in product development for the most effective solutions.

TRIZ perspective: It offers a dynamic view of technological systems, allowing effective solutions for current and future challenges.

Transcripts

In this lecture, Dmitry Plekhanov will teach you about

the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving: TRIZ.

Привет!

Today we'll talk about TRIZ.

TRIZ comes from a Russian phrase 'теория решения изобретательских задач',

which means, 'the Theory of inventive problem solving'.

The origins of the Theory can be traced back to 1946,

when Russian engineer Genrikh Altshuller analyzed more than 400.000 patents

to identify the principles of the most successful inventions.

Over the last 30 years, the Theory of inventive problem solving has spread across the world.

Some multinational companies and research agencies, like NASA, Mitsubishi, Ford Motors, and Samsung,

have implemented TRIZ approaches

to design products much faster, and more efficiently.

According to TRIZ, the technological progress and innovations are not random processes,

but instead, they are governed by certain rules, and therefore they can be predicted.

In order to become truly innovative and creative, you need to follow structured and systematic approaches.

The TRIZ approach to problem-solving can be divided into 4 stages.

At the 1st stage, you need to identify your specific problem. And this is not as easy as it might sound.

At the 2nd stage, your specific problem is reduced to its essentials,

and presented in a unique format, using TRIZ database of general problems.

At the 3rd stage, your general problem will be matched with a general solution from TRIZ database,

and currently, there more than 2.500 general solutions that can be found there.

At the 4th stage, based on the foundation of a conceptual solution, you need to design your specific solution,

that would target your original factual problem with the most efficacy and efficiency.

In addition to problem-solving, TRIZ tells us a lot about contradictions that might happen during product development.

So, the first type of contradiction is a technical contradiction. If something gets better, something else gets worse.

And this is annoying. And happens to us humans way too much often.

Just to give you an example,

the engine created to increase the speed of a car can result in more weight,

that will limit how fast the car can be.

And it is a technical contradiction.

The physical contradiction happens if there are contradictory requirements

to physical properties, and performance of a product.

So, a big umbrella will protect you better from the rain, but if the umbrella is too big,

it will not be easy to carry it around.

In this situation, umbrella size requirements is a physical contradiction.

The Theory of inventive problem solving provides us with a structure for thinking, and brainstorming,

and contributes to better innovation processes.

Based on a dynamic perspective of technological systems,

TRIZ helps us to identify effective solutions

for current and emerging challenges.

Don't accept compromises! But instead, try to eliminate them completely.

There is no compromise between price and quality, the most effective solutions are the ones that don't accept any trade-offs.

So, I hope this information about the Theory of inventive problem solving was useful for you.

See you next time! до свидания!