 TRIZ Introduction: |
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"Hierarchical TRIZ Algorithms" and Its Further Development |
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Posted: Jun. 30, 2014 |
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Editor's Note (Toru Nakagawa, Jun. 25, 2014)
As is announced in a separate page
, we have just published the Japanese Edition of Larry Ball's "Hierarchical TRIZ Algorithms":
translated by Toshio Takahara and Toru Nakagawa, published by the CrePS Institute on Jun. 30, 2014.In the present page, a new Preface written down by the author is posted. Even though Author's preface for a translation book would usually be of 1 to 3 pages in length, Larry Ball has kindly written the present one in 7 pages for introducing the intentions of the book including its current stage of further development. Thus, for avoiding it from being buried in the publication announcement, I decided to post it here as an introductory paper on modernized TRIZ.
Mr. Larry Ball has studied, applied, reorganized, and taught TRIZ since 1992. He has studied TRIZ from many various TRIZ leaders in the world and reorganized all the contents in his own way, to obtain the ideas (including philosophy, methods, materials, etc.) of 'Hierarchical TRIZ Algorithms'. It is an unique, consistent system of methods integrated for the process of product development and market development, and is an excellent example of 'modernized TRIZ'. His course materials have a lot of illustrations of application cases and are easy to understand and enjoyable for beginners, and yet are challenging to TRIZ experts with so many new concepts in understanding creative problem solving.
The present site "TRIZ Home Page in Japan" had many opportunities of posting Larry Ball's work: When "Hierarchical TRIZ Algorithms" were posted in the TRIZ Journal monthly from May 2005 to Jun. 2006, we posted it in Japanese translation (by Takahara and Nakagawa) from Jan. 2006 to Jul. 2007
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Reading the new Preface, we can understand that from a large volume of the course materials the essence is extracted gradually and is presented in a clear and easy-to-understand way more and more. I hope the readers understand what the author means with 'Hierarchy' in decision making in the problem solving process.
Table of Contents of the Paper:
Book Pedigree
Book Purpose
A Hierarchy of Decisions
Solution Branches
How to Get the Most Out of the Books
A Goal of Simplicity
Introduction Paper
"Hierarchical TRIZ Algorithms" and Its Further Development
-- Preface for the Japanese Edition of "Hierarchical TRIZ Algorithms" --
Larry Ball, Jun. 15, 2014
Book Pedigree
Hierarchical TRIZ Algorithms is an earlier version of TRIZ Power Tools which can be found at www.opensourcetriz.com.
The beginning of this book series was in the early 90's as a version of ARIZ. As more books were studied, and TRIZ authors presented additional tools, the algorithm became larger. Eventually, by the mid 90's it had become a book. Students plead for a condensed algorithm which was created and used for several years. Eventually this was published in 2003 as "Breakthrough Thinking with TRIZ". The name was later changed to "Breakthrough Inventing with TRIZ" to avoid use of the term "Breakthrough Thinking" which was copyrighted by others. The algorithms continued to be refined and revised and a new book was published "Hierarchical TRIZ Algorithms". Further refinement resulted in "Hierarchical Innovation Algorithms". It was recognized that inventors perform several different Jobs and that each made use of the core tools. The decision was made to break "Hierarchical Innovation Algorithms" into several books which each related to these jobs. Thus the series "TRIZ Power Tools" was created, one book for each job. Each book is meant to stand on its own, so sections of each book are repeated in the other books. Thus a person who is involved in the job of simplifying does not need to refer to other books in the series.
Finally, it was recognized the the books had, once again, become too ponderous, especially for beginners.
Book Purpose
Hierarchical TRIZ Algorithms has a different purpose than most TRIZ books.
From a historical perspective, the creation of TRIZ was extremely important. A type of science was born: the science of disciplined innovation. Those who bravely advanced this discipline often made great sacrifices and should be very proud of their accomplishments. These people and the theories that they created are truly remarkable.
Early developers created competing models for solving inventive problems. These models do not make clear distinctions between the different types of inventive problems and consequently overlap with each other. From the viewpoint of beginners, this is confusing. "Where do I begin?"
From the viewpoint of some practitioners, overlap is a good thing as it allows a person to look at the problem from a variety of viewpoints. In effect, the same questions are asked in different ways. Those practitioners that like the overlap usually find a way to make use of everything by forming their own algorithms.
From the viewpoint of improving a science, overlaps are chaotic and confusing. Science is the detection and use of patterns for the purpose of predicting. When patterns overlap it is difficult to tell if something is missing or what to do with new information. Patterns need to be distinct, with clear lines of definition and classification. This is necessary in order to generalize predictive theories. Science advances by observing how theory matches reality. Supporting observations reinforce and build the theory. Exceptions create dissonance and allow for the change of theory.
If we want to advance the science and discipline of inventing, we need to eliminate the overlap. How to do this? Imagine that we take all of the classical TRIZ methods along with other important marketing and innovation processes and decompose them into individual tools. Next, we pick up each tool and ask what type of problem does it help to solve? Piles of tools are built where each tool in a pile is related to the same type of problem. If a pile gets too large, we subdivide the problems that the tools help solve into new piles. We go back and forth checking and rechecking to see that all of the tools in each pile handle the same sort of problem and that the distinction is very clear between each pile. Here is a non-exhaustive example of tool piles in no particular order.
The act of disassembling the classical methods and other innovation and marketing tools into different piles with clear distinctions allows for new patterns to emerge.
A Hierarchy of Decisions
Up to this point, we have created a sort of inventor’s workshop. Each group of tools sits in its own pile ready to tackle different inventive jobs. But how do we know when to use a tool or in what order they should be used? Whenever a job is performed, activities (where the tools are applied) must be performed in an optimum order or we mess things up. The performance of one activity typically prepares us to perform other activities. For instance, a farmer will prepare the earth by loosening it and grading it before planting the seeds. Consider what would happen if this order were reversed. Few seeds would emerge into productive plants.
The job of inventors and problem solvers is to manipulate ideas and concepts in order to make inventive decisions. Just like the farmer preparing the earth for planting, performing one inventive task creates information that is necessary for other inventive tasks. If we perform these tasks out of order, then we must assume certain things. Please remember that assumptions are paradigms. Assumptions are inventive inertia. If we are to escape these paradigms then we must generate the required information before we perform inventive tasks. This allows us to manage the inventive process to break paradigms.
A Hierarchy of Decisions is proposed, which declares that certain decisions or assumptions must unavoidably precede others. We know this because a change at any level of the hierarchy affects all levels that follow. Conversely, a change at a given level does not require changes at previous levels. Following is the decision hierarchy:
- The Market (as defined by a group of people that are trying to perform a job under certain circumstances)
- Prioritized Market Impediments (to performing the Job successfully in the eyes of the market)
- The Functions Our System Will Perform (within the job to overcome market barriers or impediments)
- The Business Model (How the business will make money and sustain the target market job)
- High Level Requirements (How well our system will perform the functions in order to overcome the market impediments and make money for the business)
- The Functions (including objects) that will Deliver the Requirements. For each function the following decisions must be made in the order given:
- The Object to Be Modified
- Modification to the Object
- The Physical Phenomenon Used to Deliver the Modification
- Objects which Will Deliver the Physical Phenomenon
- A Schematic (or Analogous) Representation (of system objects)
- Appropriate Models (equations, etc. that describe the schematic relationships)
- Key Object Attributes (knobs and their values required to affect various performance requirements—These knobs come from the models)
- The Distribution of Key Object Attributes (Knobs) in Space, Time, etc. (Resolution of Contradictions)
- Engineered Drawings (schematic representations showing critical architecture and dimensions)
Notice that each decision of the Hierarchy is dependent upon information derived from decisions performed at previous levels. For instance, it is not possible to know key object parameters until the decision has been made as to which objects exist in the system. Please prove to yourself whether certain levels can be performed earlier without making important assumptions too early.
If the hierarchy of decisions is correct then the innovation processes can be viewed as a management of this hierarchy. Consider the way that most companies bring new products to market. Notice that this hierarchy is rarely followed. Key assumptions are made too early. For example, it is very typical that someone comes up with an idea for a product and then requests money to develop this idea. Please notice where “coming up with a product” falls in the hierarchy. This product is usually shown as a schematic representation of an idea. Consider all that was assumed in order to come up with this product idea. What is the target market? What are their needs? Many things are assumed. Once the idea is funded, it is sent off to finishing school.
In order to understand why this happens and why this is not a good idea, let’s look at some of the underlying business assumptions. The first assumption is that a product which is most carefully defined carries the lowest risk. Sometimes an engineer will show up with complete drawings for an idea. Because the engineering work has already been done, then less engineering work must be funded. How can we lose? The answer to this comes in the statistics. Even in the best run companies, the failure rate of new products and product improvements is very poor. Ideas which are presented as fully-engineered drawings fall into this trap. A carefully prepared idea that does not support market needs is still an albatross.
Experience has shown that when the market needs are considered first and a learning approach (approaches which verify all important assumptions before fully implementing a business model) is applied, the failure rate can be dramatically reduced. This requires a restructuring of the research approach from one of funding product development into one of funding market development. This restructuring can be quite disruptive and may seem more risky in the beginning. It may seem risky because we need to make predictions from market data. But, remember that the alternative is to have engineers assuming market needs without actually being a representative member of the market. Having a ready engineering drawing is no substitute for having good market data. This so-called “risky” approach of funding market development is being followed by Proctor and Gamble and other admired companies. When we develop markets, we approach the ideal of “making what we can sell” rather than “selling what we can make”.
Innovating at higher levels often creates the need to introduce new business models in order to reach new markets. This usually requires the creation of a new business in order to avoid the disruption. Other innovations which do not require new business models may still be disruptive to the business. History has shown that companies that are capable of jumping the barriers will tend to have an enduring competitive advantage. This is because competitors will find that they too must hurdle the barriers in order to catch up. This also explains why newer ventures typically have more freedom to innovate at the higher levels. Business models are yet to be established.
It is hoped that improvements in the theory will pay off. We believe that this has already happened. You will notice that many new tools, not available in classical TRIZ, are presented in these books.
Solution Branches
While each level of the hierarchy creates information required by following levels of the hierarchy, it also does not follow that only one idea will be generated at each level. Consequently the solution process can branch into multiple paths at each level. This leads to multiple concepts.
It also does not follow that ideas generated at each level will be successful. In order to make any given solution path work, many constraints must be satisfied. Sometimes these constraints are satisfied by turning the appropriate knob and slipping in under the wire. These systems can be more “brittle” or subject to everything going right. A better way is to satisfy the constraints by resolving contradictions. This tends to give more leeway, making the solution path resilient. In spite of this, there is a tendency to leave lesser contradictions unresolved and to optimize the system where it is appropriate. Thus, each solution path evolves independently of other solution paths. In other words, each path becomes somewhat integrated and self-consistent.
A concept evolution process can take advantage of this by allowing each of the stages of the hierarchy to remain somewhat open and subject to improvement. Improvements in flexibility at one level also cascade to other levels. Thus several solution branches can evolve independently with information sharing between them.
How to Get the Most Out of the Books
These are TRIZ “how to” books. If you own these books, it is probably because you want to develop a greater proficiency with TRIZ. Skill is the goal and it is essential to have a good collection of tools and to know the proper application and timing for each tool.
Think of these books as references that you will come back to time after time. They are invention and problem solving algorithms. These algorithms are presented as steps which build on essential information gathered from previous steps. Each step can be decomposed into finer and finer detail in a hierarchical manner, depending on the problem solving skills of the user and what the problem solver is willing to risk. In other words, the algorithm can be as detailed or simple as the user requires. This allows beginners and advanced users to self-train at all levels. For some books, a condensed cheat-sheet algorithm is given. This cheat-sheet gives all the necessary information in condensed form. If you need deeper knowledge of the step then refer to the corresponding book.
Since it is necessary to use the algorithm over and over, it is helpful to know how to jump to the various levels of the algorithm. The bookmarks to the left of the screen can be used to navigate the book. Clicking on a heading takes you to that point in the algorithm. The Cheat-sheets also give the algorithm.
Keep the navigation simpler by expanding one step of the algorithm at a time. Each level gives more detail and deeper levels. Only go as deep into the algorithm as you feel is necessary.
The highest level of the hierarchy is found in the six book titles. Each title indicates a job that innovators do, in the natural order of application. Notice that each job builds upon information from foregoing jobs. If you knew nothing more than the title of each book, you could use the top level of the hierarchy by brainstorming each book title below.
Job 1: Discovering Markets —Who your target market will be.
Job 2: Choosing Features—The requirements to make it exciting for the target market.
Job 3: Prototyping –Creating the architecture of your baseline offering.
Job 4: Simplifying –Finding ways to make your offering simpler.
Job 5: Resolving Problems –Finding ways to remove drawbacks of the offering.
Each of these jobs can be further divided into individual operations which use various inventive problem solving tools designed for that operation. Using the different levels of the hierarchy is like the difference between a rock collector, a prospector and a miner. The rock collector operates at the least detailed level. It is only important to come home with a novel gem. This is where most beginning rock collectors start and it is entirely appropriate for such a beginner to perform simple, yet exciting tasks.
Some rock collectors will begin to find other reasons to gather rocks and minerals. Perhaps there is some money to be made in locating prospective mines and then selling them. In order to do this, it is necessary to go beyond the skill of the rock collector. The prospector looks at the landscape and rock formations. She undertakes small explorations into the earth to uncover more information. This level of activity may be completely sufficient for the prospector. In many instances, the prospector may find great riches with minor exploration.
If one is especially interested in getting the minerals out of the ground, it may be necessary to go beyond the tools and knowledge of the prospector. The prospector must transition to a miner who goes much deeper and uses more advanced tools to find what he is looking for.
Each of these levels: Rock collector, prospector and miner can be achieved when you train yourself in TRIZ. We trust that each user of these algorithms will know when it is necessary to go to the next level.
Training yourself in TRIZ is both fun and work. Any good athlete knows that the exhilaration of success comes after much hard work. Most of the work comes from the repeated use of the algorithm which promotes the automatic and subconscious application of the most powerful thought tools. Eventually the brain becomes hardwired for innovation.
A Goal of Simplicity
As the tools proliferate, it becomes apparent that there is a lot to comprehend. Making the individual steps as simple as possible is a goal of this material.
Simple Nomenclature
As with many disciplines, the nomenclature of TRIZ is often difficult to learn. One goal is to make the nomenclature fit ideas that the student is already familiar with. For instance the classical name “Dynamism” is changed to “Make Adjustable” and “Local Quality” is changed to “Non-uniform.” A certain amount of new nomenclature is unavoidable, and care has been taken to introduce it at higher levels.
Smaller Steps
Most beginners are baffled by the seemingly “obvious” target-solutions presented in TRIZ literature. Many of these solutions are only obvious after the fact and represent large jumps in intuition. Some teachers may feel that these large jumps are a testament to the power of TRIZ and will try to impress the student with them. Unfortunately, many beginners are discouraged that such solutions are not as obvious to them. One goal of this solution-process is to decrease the step size, so that solutions are the result of taking several smaller steps rather than a few major leaps.
Visualization
Along with the concept of “smaller steps” is the idea that solutions need to be visualized in order to become reality. Each step should help the user to visualize a final solution. Some may feel that elegance or compactness is sacrificed by expanding classical TRIZ steps, but the goal is to make the solution more easily visualized.
Completeness of Solution
The term “solution” means different things to different people. In this book, a solution is defined as a sketch that someone could work from to design hardware. No difficult contradictions or problems would remain to be solved. Simply pointing out a physical phenomenon that might be used to solve a problem would not, in this context, be considered a solution, since difficult challenges would inevitably remain.
From my own experiences teaching TRIZ, I recognize that most people that seriously use it, have to create their own algorithms. This used to bother me, but eventually I saw that this is how people work and I went with the flow. I now see my teaching as an opportunity to help people update their own ways of problem solving and innovation. I sincerely hope that the reader will consider the algorithms of this book for inclusion into their own personal methods for solving problems.
| Top of the page | Top of the introductory paper (Larry Ball, 2014) | Announcement of publication "HTA" (2014) |
Keynote Lecture (2007) |
Keynote Lecture PDF (2007) |
Japanese page |
Last updated on Jun. 30, 2014. Access point: Editor: nakagawa@ogu.ac.jp
