This document provides an overview of interactive ideation and problem solving using TRIZ (the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving). It describes TRIZ, which was developed by Genrich Altshuller based on analysis of millions of patents. TRIZ uses 40 inventive principles and evolutionary trends to help identify innovative solutions. The document outlines the 10-step ANTRIZ process for structuring ideation, including defining an ideal final result, analyzing constraints, finding new resources, and combining ideas. It also introduces the ANTRIZ game which applies TRIZ techniques through role-playing project scenarios.

1. Interactive ideation for
problem-solving and
business development
TÖÖLÖÖNRANTA, HELSINKI
Guido Giebens
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3. New products/processes/services based on
Opportunities arising from new trends, ways of
life, fashion

4. New products/processes/services based on
Own or competitor‟s existing products/services
Users experience and demand from the market: missing
or failing functionalities: market pull

5. New products/processes/services based on
Own technology/core competence: technology push

6. New products/processes/services based on
Transfer or integration of other people‟s technology or core
competence (‘open innovation’)

7. TRIZ
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8. Genrich Altshuller (1926-1998)
1.
First patent certificate at age 14
2.
Started working on TRIZ ideas in 1946 studying patents for Russian
Navy
3.
Wrote a paper on Theory in 1947. Sent to Gulag for 7 years.
4.
Continued work 1954-85. Over 2 million patents analysed.
5.
Moved towards psychological aspects after 1985. Total effort 19461990 circa 1500 person-years
6.
Some of Altshuller‟s co-researchers moved to Western companies
following fall of Iron Curtain (1990)
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9. TRIZ = inventive problem solving…
Problem solving is like digging for treasure in a field
If a hole already exists, we tend to dig it deeper
The deeper the hole, the more difficult it is to see what is happening at the
surface of the field
If someone else (like a „specialist‟ or an „expert‟) comes along, we
encourage them to jump in the hole with us…
The overall effect is called PSYCHOLOGICAL INERTIA
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10. • Similar problems keep popping up over and over in all kinds
of industries and environments.
• The most powerful solutions are those where contradictions
are found and eliminated.
• The best solutions can turn threats into useful resources.
• Evolutionary trends in market and technology are highly
predictable.
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11.  Some
reference materials :
• Rantanen, K.: Simplified TRIZ: new problem-solving applications for
•
•
•
•
engineers and manufacturing professionals, 2002, St.Lucie
Press, ISBN 1-57444-323-2
Mann, D.L.: Hands-on Systematic Innovation, 2002, Creax
Press, ISBN 90-77071-02-4
Altshuller, G.: And suddenly the inventor appeared, 1996, Technical
Innovation Centre, Inc., ISBN 0-9640740-2-8
Website www.etria.com,
Belski, I.: Improve your Thinking: substance-field
analysis, 2007, TRIZ4U, ISBN 97-80980329-30-8
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12. 
Originally a „theory‟ for engineers, no good fit with
„management‟ or „organisational‟ problems

Board members don‟t like theory and are not
always engineers: can we make money with it?

It comes from Soviet Union... Trustworthy?

Comparable to fitness or healthy food...
• => Lower threshold might help?...
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13. ANTRIZ (ANTRI3) game was developed in 2009:

Drags people away from their screens

Builds on new hype: revival of board games

Simplifies the jargon language where possible

Structures the brainstorming process: freedom of
thinking but goal-oriented, productive ideation

Encourages 3P‟s:
• Practice, practice, practice...
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14. Teaching use of TRIZ
techniques: „make it simple‟
Using TRIZ in consulting
projects: „spread the words of
wisdom‟
Passing TRIZ knowledge on to
the next generation: „let them
have fun and be proud‟
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15. The Present: Enterprises
(production, services)
The Future: Students
(entrepreneurship, product
development, engineering, economics…)
The Distant Future: Youngsters, new
generation (pupils, youth groups)
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16. BEFORE WE RUSH TO THE GAMING
TABLES…
1. CLOSED PROBLEM = ???
2. OPEN PROBLEM = ???
3. SOLUTIONS = ???
4. FUNCTIONS = ???
APOLLO
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СОЮЗ
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17. MEMORY JOGGER
1. Describe the Situation that needs Improvement
2. Describe the Ideal Final Result
3. Look into the Force Fields (MATCEMHIB)
4. Find Improvements using the five Su-Field Rules
5. Find Resources that can help you
6. Use the Nine Squares for Mapping
7. Browse through the Innovative Principles
8. Consider Evolutionary Patterns
9. Exchange and Enrich
10. Combine and Formulate Ideation Results
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18. (a shopkeeper lost in the city…)

I am the owner of a household electronics business in
the centre of the city, and my shop is in the pedestrian
shopping area.

Lately, like some of my colleagues, I have been losing
many customers due to the recent development of a new
large shopping mall in the outskirts.

Could you help me attract more customers to my
shop, or in other words, increase my turnover?
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19. (The traffic is driving me crazy…)

I am the owner of a courier service, delivering parcels on
behalf of distributors to their clients (shops) in the city
centre.

So far, I have organised the deliveries twice a day on
working days, but the traffic density is strangling my
business, as my drivers can no longer assure timely
delivery to our clients (pharmacists, photo
dealers, opticians) during their opening hours..

How could you help me?
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20. (A target for thirsty mosquitoes…)

Especially in the summer I get lots of nasty flying visitors
in my bedroom: buzzing mosquitoes wake me up and
their aggressive stinging irritates my skin. I have given up
to swat them with a newspaper on the wall, or with my
bare hand in my own face.

Anything you can think of to get rid of this nuisance that
is not harmful for my health, and is better than the
already existing „miracle solutions‟?
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21. 1. Describe the Situation that needs
Improvement
Tell the story: explain the situation that you want to improve.
Use descriptive simple wording: verbs and nouns.
Sketch the story as an interaction between substances with use of
verbs.
Indicate which interactions need attention.
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22. 2. Describe the Ideal Final Result
Imagine what would be the ideal outcome with maximal
benefits, minimal cost and minimal harmful effects.
Agree on what perspective you want to formulate the Ideal Final
Result from.
Depict the Ideal Final Result in a short and clear sentence.
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23. 3. Look into the Force Fields (MATCEMHIB)
Every (inter)action of one Substance or another is driven by a
Force Field.
Go back to the interactions that need attention, and define which
kind of Force Field(s) is (are) causing the action as it is now.
Look into the categories of Force Fields listed under the acronym
MATCEMHIB
(Mechanical, Acoustic, Thermal, Chemical, Electrical, Magnetic, H
uman, Intermolecular, Biological).
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24. 4. Find Improvements using the five SuField Rules
Reformulate the interaction you want to work on, replacing the
actual Substances by the general words (“Subject Acting on
Object by means of Field(s)…”).
Try to apply each of the five Su-Field Rules mentioned below to
find ideas for improvement.
Record your ideas as they come.
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25. 5. Find Resources that can help you
Think of all resources available in and around the problem area.
Anything that is available or within reach can be a resource:
substances, force fields, people, things from the
environment, natural phenomena or forces…
As a team, make use of all your senses, imagination and possibly
scientific knowledge.
When you think of an object or material resource, also consider its
interesting properties, characteristics or behaviour.
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26. 6. Use the Nine Squares for Mapping
When you think of the initial situation with the problem you want to
solve, zoom out and look at the wider environment of the
situation. (or think: “why would i solve this problem?”)
Zoom in also into important details of the situation. (or think: “what
is stopping me from solving the problem?”)
Add a time dimension to all three levels: think in terms of „past‟
and „future‟, or „before‟ and „after‟.
Use this mapping tool to locate existing resources and/or
constraints and/or interactions
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27. 7. Browse through the Innovative Principles
(TRIZ, G.S.Altshuller)
Many years of patent research have shown that a number of
always recurring principles can be found in most innovative
inventions.
Browse through the list of Principles and see which ones can lead
to new viewpoints or ideas for innovative improvement.
Record your ideas as they come up.
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28. 8. Consider Evolutionary Patterns
When thinking of new ideas, it is wise to keep in mind what
general trends or evolutionary patterns are showing in industry
and society.
Use these evolutionary patterns to challenge the potential of your
own ideas, or to reinforce their chances for success.
Evolutionary patterns are found in the technical field, in business
models or in societal or cultural context.
Use the list below and confront or enrich your ideas with the
patterns mentioned. Record any thoughts that come up.
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29. 9. Exchange and Enrich
When you have collected some neat new ideas on how to
improve the situation in your innovation project, it may be time to
take some distance and let your colleagues have a look at your
findings and give you constructive additional comments.
Similarly, have a look at your colleagues‟ work on their project
and see how you would make their findings even better with
constructive hints.
Depending on the time you have, you can continue with a followthrough session after mixing the teams.
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30. 10. Combine and Formulate Ideation
Results
Use a cluster diagramme to group ideas by topic and if
appropriate combine them into concepts for further elaboration.
Look back at the Ideal Final Result formulated in the beginning
and think of next steps towards the final result.
Use the checklist below.
Agree on a clear format for early stage presentation of the ideas
to interested parties.
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31. Die &
Pawns
Base
Boards
Square
cards
Surprise
cards
Project
cards
Resource
cards
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32. Pick a project
Analyse Context
Define
Ideal Final
Result
Enrich &
Exchange
Roll Dice
Use Initial
resources
Use Surprise
cards, Principles
& Trends from
square cards
Select and
Present
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33. • Pick a project
• Define IFR
• Analyse context
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34. • Use initial resources
• Roll dice
• Use
 Surprise cards +
 Principles & Trends
• Enrich & Evaluate
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35.  Outfort
Hoboken
 AIESEC Antwerp
 Creatopia VCK Leuven
 TII Summer School Ljubljana
 ESA space station Redu
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36. (c) ANTRIM 2011
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37. MORE INFORMATION:
is a trade mark of Antrim BVBA
Guido Giebens
Antrim-Viisiteam
Wouwersveld 15 2630 – AARTSELAAR BELGIUM
e-mail guido@antrim-viisiteam.be
tel. +32 484503351
skype: antrimgie
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