# Problem-Solving in Product Innovation Based on the Cynefin Framework-Aided TRIZ
## 2 Related Research
### Conflict  
In the process of product innovation, the core of applying TRIZ is to solve problems caused by conflicts in standardized forms [52]. There are three types of conflicts including management conflict, physical conflict, and technical conflict [53]. When solving engineering problems with TRIZ, only physical and technical conflicts are usually considered. These two conflicts can be transformed by the change in their parameters [54]. A physical conflict  
Figure 1: Cynefin Framework. appears when a subsystem or component is supposed to have one characteristic in order to achieve a certain function, but at the same time, another characteristic is opposite to this characteristic [55]. For example, in order to increase the capacity of a cup, its volume needs to be increased. In order to carry the cup easily, its volume should be reduced. The volume of the cup is to be both larger and smaller, which is a physical conflict. Principles of spatial separation, temporal separation, condition-based separation, and whole-part separation can be applied to resolve conflicts. [PERSON] [56] found a relationship between these principles of separations and 40 principles of the invention for resolving technical conflicts. For each separation principle, there can be multiple invention principles corresponding to it. When a solution cannot be formed by using the separation principle, the solution can be found by using the invention principle corresponding to each separation principle. A technical conflict is an action that leads to both useful and harmful results [57]. For example, in order to increase the capacity of a cup, it is necessary to increase its volume, but this results in a less portable cup. This is a technical conflict. Useful and harmful results are first expressed by 39 standard engineering parameters. Then, conflict can be solved using the innovation principle, which is looked up by the conflict matrix [58]. As the number of components increases, the product complexity also increases. The number of conflicts in the design process can evolve from a single conflict to multi-conflicts [59]. Conflict tools of the classical TRIZ may be no longer applicable. The general theory of powerful thinking (OTSM) applies the classical TRIZ model [60, 61] for new tools to analyze complexity problems according to a hierarchical structure in identifying key issues and building a multi-conflicts model [62, 63]. [PERSON] [64, 65] proposed OTSM with four conflict resolution tools. [PERSON] [66, 67] refined OTSM for problem flow network techniques to solve multi-conflict problems. It applied the ENV model and graph theory [68, 69] for multi-conflicts to construct a parameter network according to the relationship of parameters in the ENV model, but the parameter network is not appropriate to decide the interrelationship among conflicts. [PERSON] [70] determined the key conflicts and constructed a conflict network by assigning weights to control and evaluation parameters. [PERSON] [71] and [PERSON] [72] used a hierarchical analysis method to calculate the weights of each conflict in the conflict network and determine the order of conflict solutions. However, the assignment process is subjective and the calculation process is tedious. Therefore, a multi-conflicts parameter network was built first based on the relationship between control and evaluation parameters of the multi-conflicts model expressed by ENV, and the parameter network was then transformed into a node conflict network. Node conflict network simplified rules were constructed from the multi-conflicts solving process in the existing studies. In summary, it is found that there is a close dependency relationship between the Cynefin framework, design tools in TRIZ, and conflict. Firstly, a key to the product innovation process is the resolution of problems caused by conflicts. The Cynefin framework that has been restructured from a conflict perspective can effectively identify an area for problems encountered in the product innovation process.