Three stages of classical TRIZKUROSAWA, Shinsuke
trizstudy.com

1Basic problem statement●

Foundation of TRIZ validity–Most arguments for TRIZ promotion are based on its successfulapplication●–However, successful applications do not prove TRIZ validity.
Possibility of lucky chance cannot be denied.

Basic postulate of TRIZ

“Technical systems do not evolve at random, but they evolve inaccordance with certain objective laws. It is possible to discover
the laws and use them for further improvement of systems.”●

There is no common definition of “Technical systems” or“Laws” even among a limited number of leading TRIZ masters.

2Ultimate object of the study●●Because the present TRIZ theory does notserve as the foundation of TRIZ validity, it isrequired to set the foundation on the basis ofvalidly used TRIZ contents.
It is necessary to reveal specific common
nature of different types of TRIZ.

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Targets of the study●

To set foundations of TRIZ validity on thefollowings:– specific features of TRIZ which other disciplines

lack and– their practical merits.
●To reveal the TRIZ specific features in– existing variety of TRIZ and– dynamism of TRIZ development.

4Existing variety of TRIZ
＊Classical TRIZ
TRIZ developed under Altshuller's direct leadership up to around 1985
＊TRIZ development without Altshuller
By students of Altshuller
Development according to inherent logics of classical TRIZ
Development of TRIZ application based on classical TRIZManagement of failures, Business planning, Patent strategy
Education, Advertisement, Designing, Business
European universities
Partial use of Classical TRIZ and its development (Especially in combination with existing
methods of academic and/or practical origins)
OthersAuxiliary modifications of limited tools of Classical TRIZ

5Plan: the Present presentation●●

To reveal steps of the TRIZ development during
the classical era in order to set bases tounderstand dynamism of TRIZ development.
To study 3 stages of TRIZ development at theinterval of some 15 years in between
documented in the following documents：– “On Psychology of Inventive Creativity”, Problemsof Psychology, Vol.6, 1956
– ARIZ-71, 1971
– ARIZ-85C, 1985
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Nature of the 3 documents

Aims

1956

1971

1985

Creative problem solving
is a thinking process
consisting of Analytic,
Operational andSynthetic parts

Presentation of ascientific methodfor creativesolution of difficult
technical problems

Presentation of an indisputable thinking
process to solve difficult problems new tothe TRIZ community

Presentation of the steps
which respond to therequirements of eachpart of the process

An all-roundtechnical problem
solving process* Easy problems:
Traditional tools developed by TRIZ
(Inventive principles, etc.)* Standard problems:Standards* Non standard problems:
ARIZ-85C

Prototype of ARIZ

ARIZ as theKeystone of TRIZ

ARIZ as a specialized problem solving
tool for new types of technical problems
and a tool for TRIZ development

RoleHistoricposition7Comparison of Basic steps
19561971

1985

Selection of problem

Selection of problem

Identification of principal links of the problem

Evaluation of problem situation

Identification of the critical conflict

Analytic stage

Analysis of problem

Identification of cause of the conflict

Preliminary evaluation ofsolutions

Identification of resources
Ideality / Physical conflict

Search for prototypes of solution
Analysis(Identification of Conflict)Application of resources
Application of knowledge bank

Search for changes as solution
Identification of related changes

Operation(IdeaSynthesis
generation)(Ideaapplication)

Operational stageSynthetic stage

Alternative problem

Application of changed system

Analysis of process of solving
physical conflict

Application of solution

Practical application of the solution

Evaluation of invention

Analysis of problem solving process8Three parts of Problem solving
Contents●

Problem solving as a human thinking activity is composed of 3 parts with different
natures––

Analytic part●To extract the essence of the situation with a problem●

Altshuller and Shapiro discovered the essence to be a conflict

Operational part●●–To change the representation of the situation for the solution
Altshuller and Shapiro discovered the change to be the solution of theconflict

Synthetic part
●To identify related changes required in connection with the solution– It is the root of “Secondary problem”, “Failure prediction” (Ideation),●“Problem Flow Network” (OTSM) and other TRIZ steps and tools.
Capitalization of the solution9Three parts of Problem solving
Comments●●

One of the discoveries that put TRIZ on a new
dimension of problem solving methods
Similar understandings are consistentthroughout different schools of contemporary
TRIZ

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Analysis: Prototype in 1956
●Tasks of the analytic part are as follows in 1956
To identify the true problem to be solved● To extract the essence of the problem● To formalize the essence as a conflict● To reveal the cause of the conflict●●However, it was not more than a list of required
tasks at this stage

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Analysis: Development in 1971
●Tasks in 1956 have developed into 4 sets of steps in 1971 in a new structure➢Selection of problem●➢Evaluation of problem situation●➢Ideality, Operational zone, Prototype of physical conflict, List of possible methods tosolve the conflict, Priority of the solutions

Preliminary evaluation of solutions●●

Analysis of patents, Changes of problem representation by psychological methods,
Division of elements of the problem into changeable and non-changeable groups

Analytic stage●➢Comparison of different approaches to achieve the same target. Numeric expressionof the target. Adjustment of the target based on pragmatic consideration

Secondary problem, Solution, Evaluation of solution for secondary problem

Later in 1975 (“Present situation of TRIZ”) Altshuller stated that the analytic steps including thepreliminary evaluation made the ContradictionTable superfluous.

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Analysis: Elimination in ARIZ-85C●●●

Elimination of “Selection of problem” step in thepreceding ARIZ (refer to slide 7)
One of the tasks of the analytic step, now, is thepurification of the “Mini Problem” (= Essence ofproblem) into a physical conflict
A new important task of the analytic step,identification of substance / filed resources, wasintroduced

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Operation: Conflict
1956
Technical
conflict
Types ofconflicts* Analogy innature andother fields ofMethods technologyfor* Possible
solving
conflicts changes in thesystem1971

1985

Main: Technical conflict
Additional: Prototype of Physicalconflict (Identification of theoperational zone and analysis of
two contradictory requirements
for the zone)

Main: Physical conflict(Technical conflict istreated as a mere step tothe physical conflict)* Contradiction Table* Analytic steps* Application of resources* Standards* Experiences of TRIZ
application* Eleven heuristics forphysical conflicts* Physical effects

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Synthesis
１９５６

１９７１

１９８５

List of steps* Changes requiredby introduction ofsolution* New applicationsof improved system* Application ofsolution to otherfields* Evaluation ofinvention

List of steps* Required changes inthe super system* New applications ofimproved system* Application of solution
to other fields

Detailed steps forevaluation and pragmatic
application of solution wereintroduced* Traditional contents ofsynthetic part
* Detailed instruction for
capitalization of ARIZ
application cases

Necessity of related
Secondary changes wasproblem
realized

Reference to secondary
problems in the newsteps for preliminary
evaluation of solution

A step was introduced to list
different types of secondary
problems

Contents15

Laws of technical systems evolution
1956●1956●The following laws were listed as the presupposition of the inventive problem
solving process
1. There are always close co-relationships between elements of equipment,mechanism and/or technical process.
2. Evolution of elements proceeds disproportionally. Some elements evolve
ahead of others.
3. It is possible to control the evolution of a system (equipment, mechanismand/or technical process) while a conflict between elements with advanced
and delayed evolution does not materialize and intensify.
4. A conflict prevents the evolution of a system as a whole. Invention iselimination of the conflict itself.
5. Introduction of a change to a certain part of a system inevitably leads to thenecessity of introduction of a set of changes in different parts of the system
in accordance with the requirement of the original change.
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Laws of technical systems
evolution1971/1985●

1971– No change from 1956●

1985
– Laws for this ARIZ assumed to be those mentioned

in “The laws of systems evolution” (Altshuller, 1975)– Reference to “the standards” in every step of ARIZ

and reference in several steps to “Shift to a supersystem” and “Change to micro level” witness theclose ties between ARIZ-85C and the laws.
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Ideality: 1956 / 1971
●1956–●

Concept of “Ideality” was yet to be established1971–A step was introduced at the beginning of Analytic part forformulation of Ideal Final Result, as follows:a) Think about (the selected) substance;b) What does it do?
c) How does it work?
d) When does it work?
e) Under what conditions (limitation, requirements and so on)?

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Ideality: 1985●

Based on the understanding that a physical conflict is a situation that prevents therealization of the Ideal Final Result, the concept of IFR is used twice in combination
with two levels of physical conflict.
–1X-element does not complicate the system or cause harmful effects itself,while eliminating harmful effects and/or retaining the ability of tools to achieveuseful effects during a certain operational time within a certain operationalzone.

●–2

Certain operational zone should
during a certain operational time
provide two conflicting requirements on the macro or micro level on its own.
This ARIZ requires (in the step to evaluate the solution) to further improve the idealityof (or trim) the solution.
●●19

Emphasis in each “ARIZ”
1956

1985

Conflict

AnalysisFirst
introduction ofthe TRIZ
concept ofConflict

Intention toARIZ as a toolguarantee better for TRIZ
results fromdevelopment
ARIZ application

Emphasis

Background1971

Analysis andsynthesis

20Prospect of further ARIZ
development at 1985
●A quotation from “History of ARIZ development” (Altshuller, 1986)
1. The traditional trend of ARIZ evolution - overall improvement of its quality as an algorithm
through more complete and more in-depth use of objective laws of technical systems
evolution.
2. A substantial strengthening of the "bridge" between Physical Conflict and the methods of its
resolution.
3. Further enrichment of informational data base, reinforcement of ties between ARIZ andStandards.
4. Separation of the second half of ARIZ (further development and use of discovered ideas)
into an independent algorithm.
5. Development of a new beginning part (or a separate algorithm) for identification of newproblems.
6. Strengthening of the function as a means of public education. ARIZ should vigorously
develop strong thinking skills.
7. Gradual universalization of ARIZ.

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Preliminary conclusions●●●

History of TRIZ in classical era witnesses its constant improvement. Major TRIZ
concepts are not exceptions. They have gradually changed to those we understand
today.
On the other hand, emphasis of ARIZ remained on certain and rightful extraction ofconflict as the focus of problems.
By studying 3 stages of classical TRIZ we can notice that the aim of TRIZ as asystem also gradually shifted. The change could be characterized as follows:●●●

Method of invention → Science of invention → Science for effective thinking

The change of TRIZ did not end with the Classical TRIZ, but continues today.
It is required to identify defects of Classical TRIZ as the basis of the development ofcontemporary TRIZ.

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References:
All by Altshuller：“On Psychology of Inventive Creativity”, Problems of Psychology,
Vol.6, 1956, (co-author Rafael Shapiro)“ARIZ-71”, 1971
“ARIZ-85C”, 1985
“History of ARIZ development”, 1986
“TRIZ application”, 1986
'Introduction' to “Standards for Inventive Problem Solving (76standards)”, 1988
All from the site of Altshuller Foundation
http://www.altshuller.ru/triz/23