1. Theory of Inventive Problem Solving - TRIZ (Genrich Altshuller)
There are universal principles of invention that are the basis for creative innovation that advance technology.
These principles can be codified, taught and used to make innovation more predictable.
Three primary findings:
Problems and solutions were repeated across industries and sciences
Patterns of of technical evolution were repeated across industries and sciences
Innovations used scientific effects outside the fields in which they were developed
© Peter Dominick, Michael R. Ryan 2007

2. Degree of Inventiveness
Level 1: 32% of patents employ obvious solutions (e.g. increase thickness of walls for more insulation)
Level 2: 45% small improvements to existing system, solution required knowledge of only a single field of technology (e.g. adjustable steering columns in cars)
Level 3: 18% an inventive contradiction resolved through the introduction of some useful new element (e.g. the automatic transmission, solutions uses technology from another industry/field)
Level 4: 4% are solutions found in science, use a completely different technology or paradigm to solve a problem (e.g. using materials with thermal memory)
Level 5: <1% are solutions that exist outside the confines of contemporary scientific knowledge. True discovery of a new phenomenon and the application of it (e.g the laser)
Reviewed and classified 200,000 patents
An inventive problem is one that includes at least one contradiction
A contradiction is a situation where an attempt to improve one feature of the system detracts from another.
Engineers are not necessarily always inventors, but certainly they can be and an appreciation for the process of invention can help to improve your abilities
Altshuller focused on level 2-4 solutions and identified 40 principles that were consistently used to resolve technical contradictions
Concept creation is the job of the inventor and system design is the responsibility of the engineer
© Peter Dominick, Michael R. Ryan 2007

3. TRIZ: Some Key Findings
Inventions involving levels 1,2,3 are usually transferable from one discipline to another. 95% of the inventive problems in any particular field have already been solved in another field. What do bell peppers and diamonds have in common?
Same principle used to extract seeds from a pepper before canning is used to split a gem
Increasing air pressure, then quickly reducing it causes an explosion which splits an object
TRIZ accumulates inventive experiences and then provides access to the most effective solutions independent of industry
© Peter Dominick, Michael R. Ryan 2007

4. TRIZ: Systematic Innovation
39 potentially conflicting design parameters
Weight of a moving object; weight of a non-moving object; Volume; Shape; Energy; Power, etc.
40 principles that are repeatedly used to solve most design problems
Multiplication/Duplication
Division/Segmentation
Unification
TRIZ table specifies which principle(s) most likely to be helpful for each of the 1521 potential design contradictions
Multiplication - polio vaccine
Segmentation/Division - multi-stage rocket
Unification - Using exhaust fumes to cool an airplane engine
© Peter Dominick, Michael R. Ryan 2007

5. TRIZ: Some Examples Multiplication polio vaccine
Segmentation/Division multi-stage rocket
Unification Using exhaust fumes to cool an airplane engine
Multiplication - the component is does not exist in the way it is required to work in the solution son ot has to be duplicated with or without some changes
e.g. using an altered/weakened form of the virus to create a vaccine
Segmentation break up the existing structure into parts and then rearrange them. Rocket the contradiction was power and speed versus weight (all the fuel required required to get the rocket into orbit made it too heavy). The solution was to segment the rocket so that each sub part falls away until when its fuel tank is emptied. This means that each subsequent part is applying its force on a lower mass and hence accelerating it
Unification - Using something that already exists for another purpose, In fighter aircraft there was the concern of explosives hitting the fule tank and causing an explosion. By inserting the exhaust fumes from the airplanes back into the fuel tank, they were able to force oxygen out and therby minimize the danger of an explosion
© Peter Dominick, Michael R. Ryan 2007

6. Lateral Thinking and TRIZ
Both concerned with the generation of new ideas
Both stress looking at problems from new perspectives
Restructuring existing information within the problem
Using existing information that is seemingly unrelated
Create new patterns not necessarily new concepts
Both require divergence (lateral) combined with convergence (vertical) in order to solve problems
Both techniques benefit from collaborative team dynamics that facilitate open information exchange and development.
© Peter Dominick, Michael R. Ryan 2007

7. Structured Thinking
We can move beyond just simplifying and breaking down our problems
We can structure the way we think about our problems
Understand the difference
In one, we break down or structure the problem about which we are thinking into more manageable pieces
In the other, we break down or structure how we think about a problem into useful segments
Both are extremely useful and can be used in combination
© Peter Dominick, Michael R. Ryan 2007

8. Intention
If you intend to be a thinker and go through the motions – you will become a thinker
The deliberate intention and deliberate act together starts us on the road – produces performance
It helps to have props to reinforce our intentions
Intentions without the actions doesn’t accomplish anything
© Peter Dominick, Michael R. Ryan 2007

9. Role Playing in Thinking
Role playing is a prop to reinforce our intentions and provides for the action
Role playing frees us to become fully absorbed into a particular way of thinking
Role playing allows us to play the fool without our ego getting in the way
Our role playing with thinking is to “put on our thinking hat?
© Peter Dominick, Michael R. Ryan 2007

10. Our Thinking Hats
When we want to think in this structured way, we will put on one of our six thinking hats
We can wear only one hat at a time and we want to force ourselves to think in only one way at a time
We play the role of a thinker of that type
© Peter Dominick, Michael R. Ryan 2007

11. Purpose of the Thinking Hats
Defined role playing
Directs our attention to the different aspects of thinking
Convenience – symbolism provides easy way of directing someone or your self to switch gears to a different way of thinking
Establishes rules of the game – which we typically find easy to follow
Stimulate brain chemistry?
© Peter Dominick, Michael R. Ryan 2007

12. Six Ways of Thinking We think in a number of different ways: Factually
Emotionally
Positively
Negatively
Creatively
Controlled and organized
White hat - Facts, figures, and objective information
No interpretation, no consequences, no judgments
Western thought sometimes has difficulty with this because we are trained to argue our conclusion and support with facts
Need to distinguish between “checked facts” and “perceived or believed facts”
Red hat - Emotions and feelings - “This is how I feel about the matter”
Also hunches and intuition; Legitimizes ours and others feelings and emotions which we might otherwise exclude; Never attempt to justify or provide logical basis for the feelings when wearing the red hat
Black hat -Concerned with negative assessment; points out what is wrong, incorrect or in error; explores risks and dangers; points out why something will not work; does not fit with past experience, problems that it will cause, faults in the design; don’t let negative emotions become part of the black hat thinking, that is for red hat thinking
Yellow hat - Concerned with thinking that is positive and constructive; positive assessment; explores for value and benefits and strives for logical support for these; generative with concrete proposals and suggestions coming forth; not positive emotion or creating new ideas
Green hat - The output of green hat thinking needs to be treated as creative output; suspending judgment; searching for alternatives is a fundamental part of this; movement instead of judgment
Blue hat - This thinking organizes the thinking itself; facilitator in a group will wear the blue hat most of the time; defines what it is about which we want to think; defines the problem, organizes and monitors the thinking; helps pull the results of the different types of thinking together
© Peter Dominick, Michael R. Ryan 2007

13. Factual Thinking White Thinking Hat
Facts, figures and objective information
No interpretation, no consequences, no judgments
Western thought sometimes has difficulty with this because we are trained to argue our conclusion and support with facts
Need to distinguish between “checked facts” and “perceived or believed facts”
© Peter Dominick, Michael R. Ryan 2007

14. Emotional Thinking Red Hat Thinking
Emotions and feelings
“This is how I feel about the matter”
Also hunches and intuition
Legitimizes ours and others feelings and emotions which we fight otherwise exclude
Never attempt to justify or provide logical basis for the feelings when wearing the red hat
© Peter Dominick, Michael R. Ryan 2007

15. Negative Thinking Black Hat Thinking
Concerned with negative assessment
Points out what is wrong, incorrect, or in error
Explores risks and dangers
Points out why something will not work, does not fit with past experience, problems that it will cause, faults in the design
Don’t let negative emotions become part of the black hat thinking, that is for red hat thinking
© Peter Dominick, Michael R. Ryan 2007

16. Positive Thinking Yellow Hat Thinking
Concerned with thinking that is positive and constructive
Positive assessment
Explores for value and benefits and strives for logical support for these
Generative with concrete proposals and suggestions coming forth
Not positive emotion or creating new ideas
© Peter Dominick, Michael R. Ryan 2007

17. Creative Thinking Green Hat Thinking
The output of green hat thinking needs to be treated as creative output, suspending judgment
Searching for alternatives is a fundamental part of this
Movement instead of judgment
© Peter Dominick, Michael R. Ryan 2007

18. Control Thinking Blue Hat Thinking
This thinking organizes the thinking itself
Facilitator in a group will wear the blue hat most of the time
Defines what it is about which we want to think
Defines the problem, organizes and monitors the thinking
Helps pull the results of the different types of thinking together
© Peter Dominick, Michael R. Ryan 2007

19. Summary Sounds and feels artificial but that is part of its purpose
Structuring our thinking has very real benefits both in our individual as well as our group thinking
© Peter Dominick, Michael R. Ryan 2007