Eight Key Ideas of TRIZ

September 2014
KUROSAWA, Shinsuke
Trizstudy.com

Aims of the ReportTRIZ is a widely used technology for efficient thinking.
It has supported tremendous achievements in different
fields of human activity. Because it is abundant in
multiple types of elements and used in various
applications, however, it is not a simple task to grasp
true nature of the technology.
Impatient efforts to make TRIZ simple or easy tounderstand have ended up with serious sacrifice of its
efficiency and potentiality.
This report tries to present the structure of Key Ideasof TRIZ which make it powerful and fertile. Once you
realize the structure, TRIZ turns out to be most logicaland simple, though it is not easy to understand for
those who stick to day-to-day framework of thinking.

Fields of TRIZ Application
Risk
Management

Business
Planning

Root Cause
Analysis

Scientific
Research

R&D

Educational
Planning

DesigningTechnological
Forecast

ProblemSolving

IP Strategy
Management

PR &Adverisement

Problem
Formulation

Integrationof Alternative
Systems

System ofOperators

Levels ofInventions

SelectedTrimming
TRIZ Elements
Effects

Contradiction
TableUSIT

ARIZ
DialecticsFunctionCost
Analysis

Tongs
Model

ＤＥ
PhysicalContradiction

Approach

Systems
Benchmarking

CauseEffectAnalysis

Ideality
Flow
Analysis
Laws ofSpaceSystems
Field Psychological
Evolution
Resources Methods

Inventive
Problem

AFD

Engineering
Contradiction

Space-TimeOperator
FeatureTransfer Systems

ＩＰ Strategy
InventiveManagement
Standards
Gold Fish Principles
Model

Problem
Flow
Network

SF Analysis

ZSTL

RTV

IPS

TargetTree

S-curve
Analysis

Administrative
Contradiction
MPV
Analysis

Separation
Principals

Function
Oriented
Research

Functional
Analysis

SLP

TRIZ
Software
ENV
Model

Problem
Model
GBSFunctions of TRIZ Elements(Scope of elemental functions)Function

Applicable Elements

Indication of Values

Contradiction, Ideality, Laws of Systems Evolution, Function-Cost Analysis,
Trimming, MPV Analysis

Basis of Comparison

Levels of Invention, Ideality, Systems Benchmarking

Analysis of Macro-Structureof the Environment

Systems Approach, Problem Flow Network, Problem Formulation, ENV Model, Scurve Analysis, Function Analysis, Flow Analysis, Cause-Effect Analysis, Target
Tree, Dialectics

Analysis of Micro-Structure ofthe Function

Problem Model, SF Analysis, Contradiction (Administrative, Engineering,Physical), ENV Model, Feature Transfer, Inventive Problem

Indication of Formal Changes

Ideality, Laws of Evolution, Inventive Principles, Standards, System ofOperators,Trimming, Separation Principles, Tongs Model, Contradiction Table,Dialectics, Integration of Alternative Systems

Analysis of unused
Resources

Space-Field Resources, Systems Approach, S-curve Analysis, ENV Model

Search of Resources among
general information

Effects, Function Oriented Search

Focus on Features of Human
Perception

Ideality, Space-Time Operator, Gold Fish Model, Tongs Model, Methods to copewith Psychological Inertia, RTV, SLP, ZSTL

Indication for Use ofindividual Elements

ARIZ, Function-Cost Analysis, IPS, AFD, DE, IP Strategy Management, USIT,GBS, TRIZ SoftwareStructure of TRIZ
an analogical inference

ConsciousThinking

Speculative

Perception/World
Environment

Human
BodyTRIZ

SpecializedApplications

GenericTools

GenericApplications

Key Ideas

SoftwarePractical

Mind

Specialize
Application

OS
FirmwareHardwarePreliminary Classification ofTRIZ Elements
Category

Criteria

Specialized Used in limited TRIZ
Applications Applications
GenericTools

KeyIdeas

Applicable Elements
ARIZ, Function-Cost Analysis,IPS, AFD, DE, IP Strategy
Management, USIT, GBS, TRIZ
SoftwareUsed more often indifferent TRIZ
Applications

OthersUsed in most of TRIZ
Applications

Ideality, Contradiction, Laws ofEvolution, Systems Approach,Resources,RTV (Methods tocope with Psychological Inertia),
Levels of Inventions, Models,Dialectics

Productive Thinking

We use TRIZ to support thinking efforts for satisfaction ofpractical needs of the life.
This is a type of thinking which is not only conscious but also
targeted to realistic results. Therefore, it can be named“Productive Thinking”.
There are 2 types of thinking processes in Productive Thinking;
The Analytical Process is for analysis of existing knowledges
while the Synthetic Process is for development of new
knowledges unknown to a certain group of people.
When we think seriously, we often use a tactic where we set
forth a counter argument to an existing argument for thepurpose to produce an improved new reasoning. If we namethe tactic “Dialectics”, it should be an inherent feature of“Productive Thinking”. Thus, it does not seem to be wise to
take it a specific feature of TRIZ.

Two Processes of Productive Thinking
Analytical Process

It analyzes existing knowledges to find ones which are efficient for satisfaction of confronting needs, and

to clarify the border between the known and the unknown.

But it does not produce new knowledges.

Methods which support Analytical Process

Many methods are widely used before and parallel to TRIZ.

Less efforts were made for the purpose in the TRIZ community of the classical era.

Many TRIZ specialists are working to develop more and more practical tools, now.

Synthetic ProcessIt develops new knowledges which have not been known to a certain group of people.

Methods which support Synthetic Process

We use “analogy” as the dal-to-day method for the Synthetic Process.
However, no system of technologies had been developed to support Synthetic Process before
TRIZ, because it had been (and is) commonly believed that only talented people can develop
outstanding new knowledges and that there could not be a method that supports SyntheticProcess.
Abundance of elements that support Synthetic Process is a specific feature of TRIZ.

Analytical and Synthetic Processesin Action






The target of Productive Thinking is to acquire knowledges inneed.
When they are found among the known knowledges, AnalyticalProcess is productive.
However, when no known knowledge can satisfy the needs, weought to rely upon Synthetic Process and develop requiredknowledges.
All the same, we need to know the border between the known
and the unknown through Analytical Process before we develop
new knowledges. Otherwise the Synthetic Process could idleabout.

Analytical Process: Quadrants

Target of Analytical Process

To identify what is notknown for satisfaction of
the confronting needs orwhat kind of newknowledges arenecessary and to findthem if they are known.

Body/
Human
Subject

Environment/
ObjectUnit

Features ofPerception

Features ofFunction ofthe Object

GroupFeatures ofValues

Features ofStructure of theEnvironment

Where the knowledges
exist?
The table shows logicalquadrants of knowledges.
The necessary
knowledge should belong
to one or more of thequadrants.

Analytical Process and TRIZ Key Elements

Body/HumanSubject

Environment/
ObjectUnit

RTV(Methods to copewith Psychological
Inertia ）Model (of theFunction of an
Object)Group

Ideality/Levels ofInvention (Basisof Comparison)

SystemsApproach

Synthetic Process: 3 ApproachesTarget of Synthetic Process

To develop new knowledges that solve problems and help satisfy the confronting needs.

Change the present situation to match with the situation where the needs are satisfied.

Possible 3 Approaches for Synthetic Process
1. Improvement of Useful Factors
Present Situation: Necessary useful factors are missing or insufficient

Target: Situation where necessary factors are present.

Approach: Change the situation to match with the target.

2. Elimination of Harmful Factors
Present Situation:Disturbing harmful factors are present.

Target: Situation where harmful factors do not exist.

Approach:Change the situation so as not to be the same with the present situation.

3. Resolve Contradictions


Present Situation: Use of available knowledges for satisfaction of needs leads toharmful effect(s).
Target: Situation where the needs are satisfied without harmful effect(s)Approach: Change the framework of the present situation and both achieve the targetand avoid harmful effect(s) at the same time.

Scheme of Approaches 1 & 2Prerequisite forsuccessful results fromApproaches 1 and/or 2

Matching with the target

Difference from the presentDynamism that allowsthe changes

Controllability foradjustment


Operations for changes

Resources which allow thechanges

Approaches 1 & 2 and TRIZ Key ElementsStrategy from the TopFocus on the Ideal Results

IdealityStrategy from the Bottom


Focus on the trends offormal changes of theSystems

Laws of Systems EvolutionStrategy to utilize factors thatallow changes
Focus on unused
resources in the situation

Resources

Approach 3 and TRIZ Key Elements

Achieve the target and avoid harmful effect(s) atthe same timeStrategy that focuses on the impossibility whereuse of available knowledge leads to harmfuleffect(s)Focus to change the framework of the situation

ContradictionStrategy to utilize factors that allow changes
Focus on unused resources in the situation

Resources

TRIZ Elements and 8 Key Ideas

Actual usage of following TRIZ Elements represents TRIZ 8 Key Ideas.

Four Key Ideas that support Analytical Process of Productive Thinking:Models: Focus on Function of Objects

Systems Approach: Analysis of Structure of the Environment

RTV/Psychological Methods: Focus on Human Perception

Ideality/Levels of Inventions: Analysis of Value (Sense)

Four Key Ideas that support Synthetic Process of Productive Thinking:Contradiction: Focus on Impossibility in the Situation

Laws of Systems Evolution: Focus on Trends of Formal Changes

Resources: Focus on Resources that allow Desirable Changes



Ideality: Focus on Desirable Results

Conclusions






TRIZ is a system of Technologies that support
Productive Thinking.
There are 8 Key Ideas at the basement of TRIZ.
The 8 Keys reflect the nature of ProductiveThinking
The 8 Keys can be used for the following
purposes:TRIZ Education



TRIZ DisseminationBasis of skills for further development of TRIZ