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TRIZ: A Very Contradictory Problem-Solving Method

TRIZ Talk May 2025


by Arvind V.

Written: May 04 2020

Updated: May 30 2025






The Foundation Series

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Something of Myself

  • Masters in Electronics from IIT-Roorkee (1987)
  • Past:
    • ISRO ; CDOT ;
    • Wipro Technologies; Texas Instruments;
    • Akshara Foundation; NSRCEL(IIM-B)
  • Present:
    • Srishti Manipal Institute of Art/Design (since 2014)
    • Dayanand Sagar School of Commerce and Mgmt (since 2022)
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My Teaching and First Encounter with TRIZ

  • My Design Thinking Course Play and Invent

    • Based on Csikszentmihalyi, Bourdieu, and de Bono

    • Some decent Socio-Cultural Ideas (David Foster Wallace)

    • Divergent and Convergent Thinking Techniques (Guilford, Wallas-Kogan)

    • Some Problem Analysis

  • But ultimately...brainstorming

  • I was dissatisfied with "brainstorming"

  • My own hardware design experiences at ISRO, CDOT, Wipro, TI seemed to have more structure in innovation

  • Wanted to bring it to the classroom ! Didn't know how!!!

  • STUMBLED upon (classical) TRIZ in 2017
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How Did I Get into it?

  • At first, I did not believe it!! It seemed magical!!
  • So I read, and thought, and wrote!

And wrote my own content from 2018-2019, taught it starting 2018, to Art/Design undergrads!! No Content survives first contact with the students: More than 100 GitHub pushes.

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So what is TRIZ*?

Genrikh Altshuller

*Teoriya Resheniya Izobretatelskikh Zadacht

  • A Creative Problem Solving System
  • An ecosystem of Tools and Practices
  • Based on Design Patterns gleaned from historic Patents

  • In diverse Domains

  • And a growing world of Experts and Practitioners

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What motivated TRIZ?

  • Altshuller was a Patent Inspector in the Soviet Navy.
    • Data-mined 25K Patent Applications, and found:

  • All creative Patents solved...CONTRADICTIONS!

  • Similar Contradictions were found across Domains

  • But used different language / terminology

  • Similar Inventive Solutions were found across Domains

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Worldviews in (classical) TRIZ

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A TRIZ Worldview: What's Your Inventive Problem?

  • Whatever can be wrong with a pizza box!! (Unless it is empty..)

  • Lids get soggy with steam, and may touch the toppings!

  • The Box is needed, because the hot pizza is to be delivered!!

So?

PROBLEM: Ever tried to scrape cheese off the inside of a pizza box lid?

  • Csikszentmihalyi: Keep a "Surprise Journal"
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A TRIZ Worldview: What's Your Inventive Problem? (In Class)

  • Chains need to be flexible so that can wrap around sprockets

  • Chains need to be hard so that they don't snap

So?

PROBLEM: Ever had greasy hands trying to re-align a slipped chain?

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A Good Contradiction is Half the Inventive Problem

  • Both Objects above embody a CONTRADICTION.

  • This is one of the Central Ideas in (classical TRIZ).

  • CONTRADICTIONs can also exist in situations !

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A TRIZ Worldview: A Metaphoric Language

  • Big Idea : Generalized Problem: "Your Problem has been solved somewhere else", in a different DOMAIN in a different LANGUAGE
  • So can there be a "common" "crossover" language?
    • How does a Plumber talk with a Heart Surgeon?
  • Altshuller invented one, with Metaphors
    • 48 TRIZ Metaphors for stating the Problem Contradiction
    • 40 TRIZ Metaphors for Inventive Principles

  • In Class: "Why is a Raven like a Writing Desk?" Reimagining ancient Objects using Metaphors(e.g. slide rule, 80-year old brass grinder...)

https://www.dicardiology.com/content/blogs/explaining-cardiac-conditions-layman-using-old-house-analogy

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A TRIZ Worldview: Resources

  • A Unique Way of looking at Available Resources
  • One Good way to do this is using the Ishikawa Diagram

  • Man, Material, Method, Management, Machinery (Ishikawa)

    • This diagram is used primarily to assign CAUSES
    • But it conveniently lists all the Resources.

  • What things create the compromise/tradeoff?

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/ishikawa-diagram.asp

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A TRIZ Worldview: Resources: In Class

We are far richer than we realize!

  • Karl Duncker's Cognitive Games

  • Functional Fixedness

  • Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" (Ch.7: "We spat ourselves dry")

  • Thinking Inside the Box: Ellen Domb's "The Titanic Role-Play Game"

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A TRIZ Worldview: Ideal Final Result (IFR)

  • The Ideal Final Result

    • A "Want my Cake and Have it Too" outlook

    • A uniquely TRIZ no-compromise formulation

    • A solution before the Solution

    • Focusses the Attention to specific regions of the Solution Space ( as we will see)
  • State an Ideal Final Result
  • A basic principle of TRIZ is that systems evolve towards increased ideality, where ideality is defined as

Ideality=Benefits/(Harm+Costs)

  • Evolution is in the direction of
    • ⬆ Increasing benefits
    • ⬇ Decreasing costs
    • ⬇ Decreasing harm
  • IFR allows us to invert the direction of the problem: to come backwards from Solution towards the Situation
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TRIZ Worldview: The Ideal Final Result: In Class

"Apollo 13"

"Who Invented the Post-It?"
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A TRIZ Worldview: Contradictions

  • Problems -> Contradictions

  • Contradictions exist at multiple levels

    • Administrative, or plain English. (Oh those Russians...)

    • Technical (Using TRIZ Metaphors, as we'll see)

    • Physical An Impossible Sounding Statement (using TRIZ Syntax)

  • Ever heard of Hiranyakashipu?

https://aliceinwonderland.fandom.com/wiki/Six_Impossible_Things

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TRIZ Workflow: How to Create a Contradiction

  • From the Ishikawa Diagram

  • One Parameter or Knob for each Resource

    • Each Knob creates a Certain Outcome at one Setting

    • And another Outcome at the Opposite Setting.

  • This is the Source of your Administrative Contradiction (In plain English) !!

Ishikawa Diagram

  • What resource-knobs can you control and manipulate?

https://www.opensourcetriz.com/teaching-materials.html

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So How Do TRIZ Contradictions Work?

  • AC: State your Problem in "plain English"

  • TC: "Metaphorize" your Problem using 48 TRIZ Parameters

    • Maybe more than one way!!
  • Look up TRIZ Inventive Principles for your Contradiction
    • You have say 4 TRIZ Inventive Principles
  • "Un-metaphorize" them back into your problem

  • Ever used log tables?
  • Log-Addition is a "metaphor" for multiplication...no?
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TRIZ Contradiction Matrix

  • Uses 48 "TRIZ Standard" Parameters

  • Sets off Contradictions, each Parameter against the others

  • 48 X 48 matrix!

  • Each Cell represents a "Generalized Problem"

  • Each cell has "TRIZ Inventive Principles"

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TRIZ Contradictions and Inventive Principles: In Class

  • Both Home Alone(1990) and Cast Away() are great movies to interpret TRIZ ideas of Resources, IFR, and of course, TRIZ Inventive Principles.
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Case Studies

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TRIZ Workflow: Case Study #1

Wildlife Crossings Key to Highway Safety in Banff

  • Trans-Canada Highway that runs through the Rocky Mountains in Banff National Park
  • Built in the early 1950s
  • Wasn’t expected to be the major artery it is today.
  • Park visitation increased, traffic volume surged—
  • And so : Roadkill...

https://discoverapega.ca/stories/wildlife-crossings-key-to-highway-safety-in-banff/

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TRIZ Workflow: Case Study #1: Wildlife Crossings in Banff

  • Knobs from the Ishikawa Diagram (short list):

    • Speed(H/L); Size of Animal(L/S); Number of Animals(L/S); Time of Migration(D/N);

  • Output: Road Kill / Affects Animal Migration / Human Costs / Fast Journeys

  • AC: We want to drive at high speed, but not kill migrating wild animals (or endanger our vehicles).

  • IFR: "The Animals and Humans should use the Road at the Same Time"
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TRIZ Workflow: Case Study #1: Wildlife Crossings in Banff

  • Technical Contradictions:

    • TC1: Increase Speed(9) and not worsen Duration of Action by Moving Object(15)

    • TC2: Improve Volume of Moving Object(7) and not worsen Loss of Time(25)

    • TC3: Improve Object affected by external harmful factors(30) and not worsen Duration of Action by Stationary Object(16)[see footnote]

Animals are stationary compared to the cars!!

Download the TRIZ Contradiction Matrix

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TRIZ Workflow: Case Study #1: Wildlife Crossings in Banff

  • Technical Contradictions:

    • TC1: Increase Speed(9) and not worsen Duration of Action by Moving Object(15)

  • TC1: Inventive Principles and their Interpretation:

    • 3(Local Quality): Local Quality? Parameter Change? Ok, change the road in some way...can't change all cars and definitely can't "change" animals!!

    • 19(Periodic Action): Something to be done repeartedly, but what?

    • 35(Parameter Change): Some aspect of the Road to be changed, but again... what parameter?

    • 5(Merging): ??

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TRIZ Workflow: Case Study #1: Wildlife Crossings in Banff

  • TC2: Improve Volume of Moving Object(7) and not worsen Loss of Time(25)

  • TC2: Inventive Principles and their Interpretation:

    • 35(Parameter Change): hmm..suggested again. Which Parameter to change?

    • 18(Mechanical Vibration): What???? A Siren???

    • 34(Rejecting and Regenerating Parts): Hmm....Not particularly evocative...

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TRIZ Workflow: Case Study #1: Wildlife Crossings in Banff

  • TC3: Improve Object affected by external harmful factors(30) and not worsen Duration of Action by Stationary Object(16)

  • TC3: Inventive Principles and their Interpretation:

    • 17(Another Dimension)!!!: Go above or below!!!

    • 1(Segmentation): Pieces??

    • 40(Composite Materials): A Solution with Parts? Trees? Tar? Concrete? Paint?

    • 33(Homogeneity): Equal Opportunity??

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TRIZ Workflow: Case Study #1: Wildlife Crossings in Banff

Solution:

  • (17)Another Dimension + (35)Parameter Change + 3(Local Quality) = Animal Bridge!!! (And Tunnels also in places)

  • Also 33(Homogeneity) = Equal Opportunity for Animals and Vehicles

Inventive Principles have a curious way of "coalescing" in the end!!

Herbivores use the bridges; Carnivores prefer the tunnels it seems

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TRIZ Workflow: Case Study #2: Bus Strikes in Japan

  • Drivers "need" to protest against their Employers

  • Strikes unfortunately hurt commuters, who are forced to empathize

  • Strikes do not directly "hurt the management"...which is the intent!

  • When drivers return, they are apologetic...maybe.

via GIPHY

http://www.darrellmann.com/mini-case-study-strike/

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TRIZ Workflow: Case Study #2: Bus Strikes in Japan

  • Knobs:
    • Drivers(Y/N); Commuters(Y/N);
    • Schedules; Timings(OK/NOK); Time of Day
    • Fares; Routes; Tickets; Money; Change;
    • Types of Buses; Seats...

  • IFR: Strikers must convey their anger only to employers who are far away.

  • AC: We want to strike against our employers, but they are not riding on the buses we drive !! Commuters are!!

  • TC: Improve Force(10) (of the Strike) and not worsen Object generated Harmful Effects(31) (on themselves nor on commuters)

  • "PC": Drivers must strike AND not strike at the same time! ( From whose point of view !! )

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TRIZ Workflow: Case Study #2: Bus Strikes in Japan

TC: Improve Force(10) ( i.e.of the Strike) and not worsen Object generated Harmful Effects(31) ( i.e. on themselves nor on commuters)

  • IP13 (The Other Way Around!!): What points in one direction and can be turned around? Bus Routes? Ticket Transactions?

  • IP3 (Local Quality): Something should be different inside the bus!!

  • IP36 (Phase Transition): Hmm..everybody involved must "change dramatically"...who? Commuters? Drivers ?

  • IP24 (Intermediary): Fuel Cost and Loss of Revenue as intermediary between striking staff and the company!

How can we use these metaphoric solutions...

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TRIZ Workflow: Case Study: Bus Strikes in Japan

Solution:

  • FREE, FREE, FREE !! The Bus Ticket Transaction is IP13 (The other way around)! So Conductors pay commuters..by not charging!!

  • Run buses properly on time! Use up Fuel and be on Time, but NO REVENUE ! That'll fetch the Managers! IP24 (Intermediary)

  • Everybody in the Bus suddenly Sympathises! IP36 (Phase Transition) and IP3 (Local Quality)

via GIPHY

http://www.darrellmann.com/mini-case-study-strike/
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TRIZ: My In Class Workflow Summary

  • Find a PROBLEM (Bourdieu, Csikszentmihalyi, David Foster Wallace)

  • Look at RESOURCES (knobs) within the Problem and how they affect the situation (Open Source TRIZ)

  • Turn the knobs to formulate a ADMINISTRATIVE CONTRADICTION

  • Specify an IDEAL FINAL RESULT

  • Convert/metaphorize the CONTRADICTION into TRIZ PARAMETERs

  • Look up the TRIZ CONTRADICTION MATRIX. Discover the INVENTIVE PRINCIPLES you might apply

  • Un-metaphorize the INVENTIVE PRINCIPLES to apply them in a specific way in your problem and solve it!

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And GenTRIZ? What are the Core Ideas?

"Eureka On Demand": A "Triple" Suite of Tools:

"Innovation Opportunity"

  • 9 Windows

  • Most Valuable Parameter (MPV)

  • "Anti-Product" View

Problem Analysis

  • Function / Component / Interaction / Cost Analysis

  • Function Ranking

  • Cause Effect Chain Analysis ( CECA )

Problem Solving

  • Trimming

  • Contradictions

  • Inventive Principles

  • 76 Scientific Effects / Solutions

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And GenTRIZ? What are the Core Ideas?

"Eureka On Demand": A Full Suite of Innovation Opportunity Tools:

  • Thinking in "System Operators" ( 9 Windows )

    • The past, present, and future of a (problematic) System

    • The Sub-System, System, and Super-System

Past Present Future
SuperSystem
System
Subsystem
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GenTRIZ: Main Parameter of Value (MPV)

"Eureka On Demand": A Full Suite of Innovation Opportunity Tools

  • Innovation = Main Parameter of Value ( MPV )

  • How to find the MPV ?

MPV Discovery Table

PARAMETERS Known Unknown
Unsatisfied MPV Latent MPV / Accepted Limitation!
Satisfied PV Tacit
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And GenTRIZ? What are the Core Ideas?

"Eureka On Demand": A Full Suite of Problem Identification Tools:

  • Components + Function Analysis
    • Function: An action performed by one component to change or maintain a parameter of Another component
  • System: Acid-Corrosion Testing Tank for materials
F. CARRIER FUNCTION F. OBJECT CATEGORY (HARMFUL/ USEFUL) Basic/Aux/Addl PERFORMANCE ( Normal etc RANKING Scale Oven
VESSEL holds ACID Useful Addl Normal 1 NO OK
VESSEL touches OVEN Useful Basic Normal 3 NO OK
ACID touches SPECIMEN Useful Basic Normal 3 OK NO
SPECIMEN touches SCALE Useful Basic Normal 3 OK OK
  • What? Components = Substance + Field
  • How? ( NOUN + VERB + NOUN )
  • How Much?: Basic / Additional / Auxiliary functions
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And GenTRIZ? What are the Core Ideas?

"Eureka On Demand": A Full Suite of Problem Identification Tools:

  • Interaction Analysis

  • System: Acid-Corrosion Testing Tank for materials

Vessel Acid Specimen Air Gravity Light Scale Oven
Vessel X OK NO OK OK OK NO OK
Acid OK X OK OK OK OK NO OK
Specimen NO OK X OK OK OK OK NO
Air OK OK NO X OK OK OK OK
Gravity OK OK OK OK X OK OK OK
Light OK OK OK OK OK X OK OK
Scale NO NO OK OK OK OK X NO
Oven OK OK NO OK OK OK NO X
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And GenTRIZ? What are the Core Ideas?

"Eureka On Demand": A Full Suite of Problem Solution Tools:

  • Trimming

    • What parts of the System can be removed?

      • Ranking

    • How can you justify their removal?

      • Unimpaired Functionality

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So, Why Learn TRIZ?

  • It contains the distilled inventive wisdom of humanity

  • Can confer super powers on the user

    • Makes you believe in impossible things and make them happen
    • An enhanced world-view
    • Makes you a problem-solver
    • And a "thought leader" at the workspace, maybe?

  • Be ready to be called "crazy" and get incredulous looks!(Personal Experience)

  • And of course, there is money....and name and fame if you want it!

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Finally: What will I add into my Course?

  • More of the Problem Identification Tools

  • Try to game-ify them!

  • Real Life Examples

  • Most Valuable Parameter (MPV)

  • "Anti-Product" View

  • Function / Component / Interaction / Cost Analysis

  • Trimming!

My Contradiction / Challenge?

  • How to turn Procedures/Processes into Games in the Classroom !!

  • What do I TRIM from the existing course !!

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Maurice Leloir (1851-1940)

Thank You!!

Slides made with

via the R packages:

⚔️ xaringan
+
😎 ✘gadenbuie/xaringanExtra

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Something of Myself

  • Masters in Electronics from IIT-Roorkee (1987)
  • Past:
    • ISRO ; CDOT ;
    • Wipro Technologies; Texas Instruments;
    • Akshara Foundation; NSRCEL(IIM-B)
  • Present:
    • Srishti Manipal Institute of Art/Design (since 2014)
    • Dayanand Sagar School of Commerce and Mgmt (since 2022)
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