# Problem-Solving in Product Innovation Based on the Cynefin Framework-Aided TRIZ
## 1 Introduction  
A process of product innovation faces different problems to meet the final design requirement [1; 2]. Choosing appropriate tools for problem-solving is a challenge in the product innovation process [3; 4]. As the concept design decides more than 70% of the total cost of the final product development [5], it is important to study different types of problems and corresponding measures in the conceptual design stage. Design problems in the process of product innovation are often caused by external environment changes such as market pulling and technology driving. Market pulling stems from needs for customer satisfaction, customer experience, and behavior [6]. Technology driving is the initiative in product innovation based on new technologies [7]. When the external environment changes, a product needs to respond to the change [8]. In the conceptual design process, the traditional design process focuses on finding solutions, which ignores the efficiency of finding solutions and new problems caused by conflicts between solutions and existing systems [9; 10; 11; 12]. The Theory of the Solution of Inventive Problems (TRIZ) is an effective method for product innovation and is widely used in various fields [13; 14]. However, because of a large number of problem-solving tools and many possible ways of solving problems in TRIZ [15; 16; 17], when these tools are used to solve problems, it is difficult to choose the right tool to solve different problems. There is no easy way to approach a logical and clear structured process of problem-solving. The Cynefin framework, which originated in the field of knowledge management, provides a solution model for different problems [18; 19; 20]. Under the Cynefin framework,problems are divided into five areas: simple, complicated, complex, chaotic, and disorder according to the causality of the problems [21; 22; 23]. Assigning solutions according to the problem area helps to make the right decision. A problem can be transformed into several areas under different constraints to reduce its complexity dimension, which provides a standard process for problem-solving. This is the same idea as the TRIZ problem-solving process. However, according to the existing literature studies, the Cynefin framework has not been used in product innovation adequately. It is necessary to reconstruct the problem area according to the characteristics of the product innovation process to facilitate the classification of the problem and to integrate it with TRIZ for the solution of the area problem. In summary, this paper integrates the Cynefin framework and TRIZ to guide users using design tools in the product design process. The Cynefin framework is used to analyze the problem type and determine the problem area based on the external environment changes of the product, which aids in the application of a tool for problem-solving. Problems in complicated and simple areas are combined by considering conflicts expressed by an Element-Name-Value (ENV) model [24]. A multi-conflicts parameter network is established according to the EVN model. Node conflict network simplified rules are constructed to identify key conflicts. The disorder problem is split based on problem characteristics. Chaotic and complex problems that cannot be solved directly by the extraction of conflicts are transformed into complicated or simple problem areas through technological evolution [25]. Effect searching [26] is introduced to reduce the problem complexity dimension for a standard structured model of product innovation. Contributions to this research are as follows:  
1. The Cynefin framework is reconstructed by the conflict, making it compatible with the product innovation process characteristics. 2. A reconstructed Cynefin framework is applied to aid TRIZ in the problem-solving process. It provides a new method for the application of design tools in TRIZ from the perspective of problem classification to solve difficulties in applying TIRZ. 3.