Bloglines - The Theory of Inventive Problem Solving

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It's all about people and networks A view of people working in networks and communities

The Theory of Inventive Problem Solving In Innovation Genrich S. Altshuller is te founding father of TRIZ, the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving. I am stuying the facilitation of knowledge networks and communities of practice in the application of methods like TRIZ. One of the better reference pages about TRIZ can be found here; an interesting part for that facilitation is the part where is described how Altshuller noted that  the source of the solution required broader knowledge and more solutions to consider before an ideal one could be found. Table 1. Levels of Inventiveness. Level Degree of inventiveness % of solutions Source of knowledge Approximate # of solutions to consider 1 Apparent solution 32% Personal knowledge 10 2 Minor improvement 45% Knowledge within company 100 3 Major improvement 18% Knowledge within the industry 1000 4 New concept 4% Knowledge outside the industry 100,000 5 Discovery 1% All that is knowable 1,000,000 What Altshuller tabulated was that over 90% of the problems engineers faced had been solved somewhere before. If engineers could follow a path to an ideal solution, starting with the lowest level, their personal knowledge and experience, and working their way to higher levels, most of the solutions could be derived from knowledge already present in the company, industry, or in another industry. Comments