TRIZ Methodologies

TRIZ is an advanced problem solving methodology that is based on logic and data, not intuition, which accelerates the project team's ability to solve these problems creatively. Mr. G.S. Altshuller and his colleagues in the former U.S.S.R. developed the method between 1946 and 1985, who name it as TRIZ, which is the Russian acronym for the “Theory of Inventive Problem Solving.” TRIZ provides repeatability, predictability, and reliability due to its structure and algorithmic approach. It is an internationally accepted discipline of creativity that relies on the reading of problems & solutions’ patterns. Around three million patents have been analyzed to discover patterns that predict breakthrough solutions to everyday problems.

General creativity tools have been limited to brainstorming and related methods, which depend on intuition, fiat and the knowledge of the members of the team. Simple problems get solved with these simple tools & techniques. However some complex or critical projects repeatedly reach a blank point after the analysis is completed, and next step is unclear to the team. Project team tries to be creative, to figure out what to do. However general creativity tools & methods start giving unpredictable and unrepeatable outcomes. Hence in such a situation TRIZ is quite effective.

TRIZ was being utilized in military operation in the beginning, however the success and accuracy with which it solves the complex scenarios and problem situation has made it spread into corporates as well. It is increasingly shared and being utilized in Six Sigma processes, in project management and risk management systems, and in organizational innovation initiatives. TRIZ research began with the hypothesis that there are universal principles of creativity that are the basis for creative innovations that advance technology. If these principles could be identified and codified, they could be taught to people to make the process of creativity more predictable.

The short version of this hypothesis is:

1) Somebody someplace has already solved this problem (or one very similar to it.)
2) Creativity is now finding that solution and adapting it to this particular problem.

The TRIZ research has evolved in multi facet & multi direction during the last sixty years. The three primary findings of this research are as follows:

1) Problems and solutions are repeated across industries and sciences. The classification of the contradictions in each problem predicts the creative solutions to that problem.
2) Patterns of technical evolution are repeated across industries and sciences.
3) Creative innovations use scientific effects outside the field where they were developed.

Much of the practice of TRIZ consists of learning these repeating patterns of problems-solutions, patterns of technical evolution and methods of using scientific effects, and then applying the general TRIZ patterns to the specific situation that confronts the developer.