TRIZ – controlled magic of creativity

The strongest ones solve complicated tasks, the powerful conclude universal principles which create models, concepts and strategies. This is how TRIZ was invented – theory of the resolution of invention-related tasks. The author – our compatriot – the engineer, writer and science-fiction author Genrich Altshuller. Did not know? Let’s go over the surface!

 

Concise mechanics of TRIZ:

1. identify and escalate the contradiction

2. use patterns of evolution

3. systematization and overcoming psychological inertia

4. develop multi-screen thinking and system operators

5. research for resources and structuring information about the contradiction.

 

The theory is applied for

- solving creative tasks

- forecasting development of systems

- activating creative mindset.

 

TRIZ is a doctrine of creating considered to be a vague and poorly formalized activity. Amateurs blaming for elusiveness of ideas – pathetic losers fearing of system theories. Expecting “enlightenment” and the “educated guess” method do not increase the intensity of desired insights.

 

Frustration, projection and iteration remain a feature of creators not bothered by economy of resources and time expenses on analysis while they are generating ideas. The basic principles of TRIZ help effectively to overcome problems:

- integrity of the laws of technical evolution – structure, functions, transition

- specificity – features make easier or harder changing problem situations

- contradiction – under the influence of the environment conflicts are risen, escalated and solved out.

 

TRIZ promotes developing fantasy and creativity – heuristic methods and operations activating overcoming psychological uselessness and mental barriers in dealing with problems with use of elegant and paradoxical ways.

 

The method of focal objects is intended to establish associations between random objects. Let’s take care of developing a diving flashlight. With help of a book pick up three random nouns. Highlight the main features and transfer them on our device.

 

The first came to my mind: pen, blood, roof.

 

Features:

- thin, long, ribbed

- liquid, warm, alive

 -solid, flexible, silent.

 

Options of the flashlight with the main features of the random words:

 - thin diameter

- considerable length

- ribbed design

- with fluid battery

- warm to the touch

- responding to signals

- solid body

- flexible structure

- silent in use.

 

Sum up the ideas:

- a thin flexible long flashlight wrapped around the hand or strap for around the head

- a warming flashlight with a rubber body and fluid battery

- a flashlight stable on a rib with a solid body responding with flashes on ticking under water.

 

The method of morphological analysis allows to change objects electively with combinatorial search of elements. Let’s come up with a model of child backpack dividing it by capacity, handlers and shoulder straps:

- capacity is made of fabrics, leather or plastic

- handlers – wood, plastic, rubber

- straps – belts, cords, tubes.

 

The full search gives 27 options to technologists to analyze.

 

The goldfish method consequently transfer an unbelievable situation into combinations of possible situations. Suppose we have a warehouse full of male t-shirts of extra-large size which are not bought for the last five years. Preferably every man in the city become huge brutal one – impossible.

 

What if it will be fashionable to wear gigantic masculine shirts? Set up a trend, elaborate styles of wearing mega t-shirts for children and ladies as jumpsuits and dresses, this is an easygoing phase of the task.

 

The method of Robinson Crusoe enables to locate and use hidden features of objects. Diversity of the world is compressed by ideas of a solver on a desert island with limited resources, ancient technologies and primitive ways of life support.

 

In summer at a warehouse a shipment of room heaters was stuck. How to use them if we do not have anything else? Warm up food? Evaporate juice concentrate? Dry bed clothes or collected herbs? Speed up birth of baby chicks and rise of dough? Treat feet and back?

 

The Hamlet method (to be or not to be) – presenting contradictive demands towards features or conditions of an object. The brightest example – road signs must be visible without traffic light. The solution – applying retro reflective elements returning light beam from cars.

 

The method of security questions concentrate experience through the list of doubts helping to manage with a problem. In the city, we cannot find a team of shop assistants. Thoughts bringing to the solution:

- how the town is different from others or previous?

- what are the main methods of search and selecting candidates?

- selling – means…?

- what is a team?

 

The method of miniature dwarves brings solving difficulties to imitation of executing work by numerous dwarves. Need to peel tons of fish for processing into cans. If we had an army of soldiers – they would be moving in formation, every would peel a scale and the problem is solved!

 

What will replace tiny hard workers? A drop of water jet cutter, abrasive wheels or swirling grater. Filing metal works the same way – patiently removing crumbs. Similarly, paper grinder gradually saws a pencil.

 

Difficulties bring to dead end, but the bright star TRIZ straighten a complicated way. Do not be blinded by imaginary panacea, but study methods that were not risen in the article. Will help, save. Let the proud slogan be “a persistent one is worth more respect than a loser lost any aim”

 

Author: Oleg Braginsky

Translation: Marina Alexandrova

Source: New Retail