OTSM-TRIZ for Sustainable Innovation

Application of OTSM NofP for sustainable innovation: from zero to the market place

2010-07-09T15:46:00.000-04:00

Here it is just one example of OTSM Network of problems application in combination with many others OTSM-TRIZ based tools. The product is on the market now. it was created by on of my students of Advanced Master in Innovative Design (include more than 300 hours of OTSM-TRIZ study). The new product have several revolutionary solutions and open new horizon for the product development based on OTSM Network of Problems (NofP). As you can see those 300 hours of study pay back much morte than one day training for 40 principles. It seems very simple now. As they say in UK - it is easy if you know how....
However it was not so easy to overcome mental inertia of colleags inorder to repose problems in unusual way and find a simple solutions. OTSM Network of Problems was helpful to overcome resistance of bosses and colleagues. You can read more about resitance to really innovative ideas in the first posts of this blog.

Could innovation become a culture through all ranks of an organization?

2010-02-18T21:06:00.000-05:00

The main tool of Classical TRIZ and its theoretical background can be seen as a powerful platform for integration many other methodologies into unified system. Why?
When people often use ARIZ and familiar with original Altshuller's Philosophy of Classical TRIZ they obtain certain culture of thinking that can be used in many ways in various improvement and innovation methodologies. Two generations of OTSM
which are further development of the Classical TRIZ provide users with even more advanced tools for managing complex interdisciplinary problematic situations. OTSM was develop under Altshuller Supervision and from the very beginning it was done the way to allow simple integration of OTSM with many other methods and tools as well as integration all main tools of Classical TRIZ into unified system of thinking.
OTSM based tools can be used for the domain of Classical TRIZ application and far beyond its application. In many cases we can Implement OTSM Network of Problems technique in order to transform fuzzy initial situation into clear description of the problem situation that can be used in many ways during managing various project. For example developing complex software project. Improving powerplant or stoves you use in your cottage in the deep forest. Developing methodology for region planning and developing new very innovative product that was not changed for dozens of years because set of mental streotipes and luck of imagination. Why it can be doen? Becase of OTSM tools are domain free and dedicated for knowedge processing. It is a kind of Meta Knowledge on how use available knowlegebetter effectively. The tools stimulate both human brain hemisphears.

OTSM has its own theoretical background and toolbox.
Of cause it is based on Classical TRIZ. However some advancements were done in Classical TRIZ Philosophy. As a result OTSM-TRIZ thinking process can be viewed as a background for corporate culture oriented to continues innovation and improvements as well. This way of thinking can be seen either as a language for discussion on complicated and complex situations. Some more information about OTSM, its Theoretical Background and practical tools can be downloaded from my LINKEDIN profile and website:

http://www.otsm-triz-insight-lab.net/index.php?p=1_12_Texts

Resume:
Innovation can become a culture through all ranks of an organization if we use appropriate culture of permanent innovative thinking and improvement. OTSM was developed for this purposes.

Red Ocean instead of Blue one

2010-01-25T21:40:00.002-05:00

One of the problem about old strategic general idea that now many people call as Blue Ocean is
that the more blue the more unusual and this is scared customers a lot.
Form one hand they would like something pretty innovative from the other had when this innovative ideas appear it scare the customer at first and it took time o convince them in feasibility of the idea. It is much helpful for this purpose OTSM Network of problems. This is especially good if it was done in systemic way from very beginning for screening initial situation then for its analysis and synthesis of ideas and for evaluation of the obtained ideas. This make the process visible to the customer and it helps discuss unusual ideas.
The easely ideas accepted the more probability your competitors will use the same strategy and you can find you in the Red Ocean instead of Blue one. And vise versa.

Good Strategy must seems unrealistic and not good for implementation.

2010-01-18T22:46:00.001-05:00

If we always do just something that seems real from the beginning then we will always will stay in the red ocean and repeat the same things that all our competitors do. The art of strategy is the art to develop strategy that seems unrealistic for most competitors
but we have to be able to solve problems of implementation in order to transform something that seems unrealistic into well implemented realistic things. That is the point! In highly competitive world we have to do something that all other consider not realistic... This is the key point of innovative strategy. Otherwise you are predictable by customers and they can easy bypass your company...
Good Strategy must seems unrealistic and not good for implementation!

It is necessary in order to jump to a blue ocean.
To work in the blue ocean continuously we need to do something unusual and do it regularly and successfully.
To develop this kind of strategy we need unusual tools that can lead us to unusual creative ideas about both: (1)strategy itself and (2) the way it will be implemented.
OTSM-TRIZ axioms and other tolls based on the Axiom of Impossibility work well for this purpose.
If our competitors do not believe that OTSM-TRIZ can help them it is our competitive advantage. Let them use traditional methods based on random trials and errors if the can afford it.

Real business can not depend on random inspiration of top management.
It need appropriate tools to keep going permanent line of temporary monopolies based on regular Innovation....

Above all.
If you have line of further innovation in advance then you will be well prepared for next jump to a new blue ocean as soon as the old one start to transform into red one.

TRIZ based software and semantic approach

2010-01-18T01:08:00.002-05:00

I believe that Semantic approach that is used by Invention Machine Corporation is not restricted by the direct link from functional diagram to data base of solutions as some people believe. The point is that there is not data base of solutions. Computer 'read and understand' texts
in the deep Internet. Then select appropriate ones for you according query for search for relevant information. This is a semantic part.

TRIZ part in modern IMC software belong to preliminary superficial analysis of the problematic situation and proposed some more or less typical TRIZ solution.

Then integration between TRIZ and Semantics used to create query for search trough various text storages. Tnen IMC software looking for existing solutions, described in the various texts in several languages. This is the important point! Without semantic approach it can not be done effectively, I believe.
So it is not just data base.

Semantic approach open new era on TRIZ typical solution technologies evolution. It can be used also for searching analogy between technical problems and biological or botany solution. But I am not sure if IMC is working on this point. It is idea of Professor Li Shu from University of Toronto.

IMC software up to now is not dedicated to deal with non-typical, so called creative problems, but just help find particular application for general TRIZ typical solutions in the context of the initial problematic situation. Those solution were already used some where or in other domains. It is very-very useful and can be used by TRIZ professionals as a support tool for solving non typical problems.

May be some of IMC members who read this blog can say something more about roles of TRIZ and Semantic Analysis in Gold Fire Innovator software?" Your comments are more than welcome.

What for OTSM-TRIZ network of problems/solutions can be good?

2010-01-11T04:01:00.001-05:00

OTSM Network of problem is a technique for posing correct problem out of fuzzy situation.

The method somehow links to functional analysis, project management, cause effect analysis, failure mode analysis, Altshuller's schema of powerful thinking (4 dimensions system operator) and other analytical methods of OTSM-TRIZ, but not only. It allowed easy integration with many other analytical techniques useful for practical management of complex problematic situations.
It can be used also for some project planning, strategy planning, initial stages of complex system modeling (Simple as well), UML Use cases developin, multi-disciplinary optimization and
others when we have to pose problem correctly: starting from fuzzy initial situations and finishing by proposing set of right problems to be solved or managed.
In other words OTSM network of problems/solutions can be effectively used for situation that need domain free instruments for transition from fuzzy initial description of a problematic situation to better formalized map of the situation. Based on the map we can select and posing set of right problems to be solved, analyzed, or modeled.
Important notice:
It is domain free methodology based on OTSM-TRIZ, but professional knowledge on each relevant domain still required from experts. Same as all other OTSM based tools it devoted for knowledge processing by human or, sometimes, with appropriate computer support. However knowledge on particular domain still necessary.

Further information:

1. N. Khomenko, R. De Guio. OTSM Network of Problems for representing and analyzing problem situations with computer support. In the book: Trends in Computer Aided Innovation. Edited by Noel Leon-Rovira, Su K. Cho. Springer 2007, ISBN:978-0-387-75455-0. ISSN: 1571-5736 (Print) 1861-2288 (Online)p.77-88
http://www.springer.com/computer/book/978-0-387-75455-0

2. N.Khomenko, R. De Guio, L. Lelait, I.Kaikov. A Framework for OTSM-TRIZ Based Computer Support to be used in Complex Problem Management. International Journal of Computer Application in Technology (IJCAT). Volume 30 issue 1/2 - 2007.
http://www.inderscience.com/

3. N. Khomenko, E. Shenk, I. Kaikov. OTSM-TRIZ Problem Network technique: Application to the history of German High-speed trains. Presentation for ETRIA 2006 Presentation for ETRIA 2006
http://www.otsm-triz-insight-lab.net/index.php?p=1_12_Texts

How OTSM-TRIZ work: short introduction

2010-01-05T09:39:00.004-05:00

If you or your people need tools for making analysis of the complex interdisciplinary problematic situations and generate satisfactory solutions and objective evaluation of the solutions then
I would recommend you OTSM-TRIZ, which is based on Classical TRIZ.

1.OTSM Network of problems/solution - to study observes and understands deeply a problematic situation. It allowed zoom in to details of the situation and zoom out to observe place of the detail in the context of the particular problematic situation. As a result we can select (by certain rules) most important – the key problems - to be solved.

2.For analyzing selected problems and step by step developing satisfactory solution can be used OTSM Contradiction Technology and other tools of OTSM-TRIZ. They have not only general recommendations but precise rules to fulfill each step. As a result they help to go even more deeply to the root of the problematic situation and eliminate them.

3. As soon as some ideas start to appear we use OTSM Network of Problems to evaluate obtained solutions in the context of our current understanding of the problematic situation.

OTSM-TRIZ is a complete system of tools for various aspects of managing complex interdisciplinary situation, - as well as not so complex situations, - in our professional and private life.
It takes time and efforts to learn these powerful tools and their theoretical background but it pay back much more and much longer period of time. It is a very practical as a result and helps to save much more time because of we obtain satisfactory solutions quicker, timely and save many our resources. It was tested at LG-Electronics, Samsung, EADS, Ford, Arvin Meritor (French branch),Puegeot-Citroen,Bosh-Siemence, Salomon, Renault, EDF and others...

OTSM-TRIZ software: Integration with existing popular software

2010-01-04T21:06:00.005-05:00

Today I have posted new discussion topic at my Linkedin Group - TRIZ based Software.
This group is dedicated to discuss some functionality that OTSM-TRIZ can bring to software and how then the software can be helpful for solving problems in professional and private life.

Bellow you can find one of post that starting discussion on using OTSM-TRIZ for integration its ideas into existing powerful software. One of my friend develop for me software that helps me formalized and simplify analysis of OTSM network of problems/solution. It is very helpful for me. And I have asked myself why don't we integrate something more into one or several existing software? What prevent us from doing this? Some individuals can create their own software and start their small business. Big company can implement those ideas and increase functionality of their software for many regular users. This can bring a good competitive advantage for each of Software Giants.

Any one who are interested can contact me for further discussion or participate the group at Linkedin or put their comments right here - in my blog.
===========================
Posted at Linkedin Group - TRIZ Based Software
Until now most of TRIZ based software exist as an separate software.
However it can be developed software that is a part of existing software.
It was an experience already to Integrate Invention Machine Corporation Software to CAD software. Why don't we discuss what should be done for instance for MS Office? or Open Office? or Mind Manager? or what else you consider good for your work on your private and professional problematic situations?

For instance I have a large experience in Using MS Visio and Mind Manager for developing OTSM Network of Problems. Both of this software I like a lot but...
But some lack of needed functionality decrease effectiveness and effectiveness using them for solving problems. Adding some more functionality can sufficiently change and increase are of application and bring a new life for both Mind manager or MS Visio. I did proposal and it was accepted by Mind manager Team. Now you can export Mind Manager diagrams into MS Visio. but... still some but exist. As a result I had to switch to Visio instead of Mind manager that I love a lot. Pretty sad situation. However I miss Mind Manager functionality that is absent in Visio.

Integration OTSM based rules and functionality will enhance functionality of existing software whatever it is form Sun or from Apple or Microsoft or MindJet as well as any other whose. we can discuss here some ideas that was already well tested with Mind Manager and MS Visio. may be some one can develop additional software as add-in for some other powerful software. I am not software engineer but ready to share my ideas with any one who is interested. they can contact me privately or we can use this group to study potential customer needs.
What do you think?

What should be done with complex interdisciplinary Problem?

2009-10-29T10:50:00.004-04:00

Often enough people asked about how to manage complex interdisciplinary problematic situation. In frame of OTSM evolution for this purpose was developed Problem Flow Networks (PFN) approach. It was tested for many times for various problems. However it works for not so much complex problem as well. Same as Classical ARIZ
of Genrich S. Altshuller (ARIZ-85-C) once you learn deeply it you start think ARIZ way permanently for difficult and not so much difficult problems. Same with OTSM PFN approach. It is helpful in many ways for negotiations; for problem solving and for business meeting; for planning of research; for forecasting; for supporting project planning and management.
More detail information is here:

1. N.Khomenko, R. De Guio, L. Lelait, I.Kaikov. A Framework for OTSM-TRIZ Based Computer Support to be used in Complex Problem Management. International Journal of Computer Application in Technology (IJCAT). Volume 30 issue 1/2 - 2007.

2. Nikolai Khomenko, Roland De Guio, and Denis Cavallucci. Enhancing ECN’s abilities to address inventive strategies using OTSM-TRIZ. Int. J. Collaborative Engineering, Vol. 1, Nos. 1/2, 2009. Inderscience Enterprises Ltd

3. N. Khomenko, R. De Guio. OTSM Network of Problems for representing and analysing problem situations with computer support. In the book: Trends in Computer Aided Innovation. Edited by Noel Leon-Rovira, Su K. Cho. Springer 2007, ISBN:978-0-387-75455-0. ISSN: 1571-5736 (Print) 1861-2288 (Online)p.77-88

Some more papers on Classical TRIZ and OTSM available here for Download:

www.otsm-triz-insight-lab.net

The site is under construction but downloads is available now. Just put cursor above Download menu item

The Key Question to be answered by Classical TRIZ

2009-09-22T13:22:00.002-04:00

Once I've seen list of 300 of creativity methods and it was not complete. Many people belive that the more methods you know the better... Should we learn all of those 300 methods and do the same?
What for?
How long it will take and how much will be the cost?

If we need to show many methods we can take any component of TRIZ and present it as separate methods like some one did with Altshuller’s Schema of Powerful Thinking that originally has 4 dimension and infinite amount of windows. However someone cut it till nine screens and two dimensions only. Some other cut it even more - to 5 windows. I've seen even just 3 in one dimension.
Using this cutting method and taking into account that original schema have infinite we can produce infinite amount of N-Window methods. Just take one Schema from Classical TRIZ that was not a tool for problem solving but to understand the Goals of Classical TRIZ education.

By the way, Classical TRIZ is not a method for solving non typical (creative) problems but it is a theory of creating methods on solving problems whenever we need them. This side of Classical TRZ not so well known yet even in Russian TRIZ community. We can create as many methods as we need and then we will have infinite list of Tools. Then what we will do with this list? How can we make a right choice of an appropriate tool among this infinite list or their combination?
I just use one of tools of Classical TRIZ which is component of ARIZ – Exaggeration Technique, It is usually used as a tool to investigate problematic situation. But it can be used as a problem solving tool as well or as a part of other tool.

Approximately that is how appear a Key Question posed by Genrich Altshuller in 1946 when he started to develop problem solving technique that later evolve into Algorithm of Innovation – ARIZ and finally ended with the Theory of solving non typical (inventive, creative) problems - TRIZ. Each applied theory started with certain key question to be answered by the new theory.
So what was and still is the Key Question to be answered by classical TRIZ?
Altshuller formulated it approximately like this: How the one can develop a satisfactory solution without lot of useless trials and errors while not degrade quality of the solution?

Please pay attention for several point :
1. Not search for satisfactory solution but step by step develop it.
2. Exaggeration was used to clarify problem. Ideally we do not need many solutions we need just appropriate solution for the given situation. If we generate lot of them it means we do not understand the problematic situation yet. Above all it is well known now that quality of a satisfactory solution does not depend on the amount of solutions that were generated along problem solving process. However, stereotype (superstition?) about need of large amount of ideas still survive. TRIZ was struggle for developing satisfactory solutions with less trials and errors.
3. The problem was posed by Altshuller in the shape of Contradiction-IFR. These Siamese twins can not survive in TRIZ without each other. BTW Each type of contradiction now used in the world as a separate creativity tool….
4. Sometimes we need several solutions. It happens when for certain reason we or our customers do not want to disclose some important information on the problematic situation and we have to generate several ones and explain which solution is good for what situations. Then customers do them choice by themselves without TRIZ experts.
5. Those who still need many ideas still can use Classical TRIZ to generate lot of ideas. But it is step back from what Altshuller has already achieved in Classical TRIZ.

So, Why Altshuller poses the problem this way?

If we came back to the initial point of infinite amount of creativity tools (and we can do this as I shown above with help of Classical TRIZ) we will have at least three big problems:
1. How can one make a choice of the appropriate tool for the given problem?
2. Imagine we can apply all of the tools and obtain infinite amount of solution. Then how can we make a right choice between infinite amount of those conceptual solutions and evaluate all of them? How long it will take? Infinite of cause. Do you have infinite supply of time to produce ideas and make decision?
3. Last but not least. How long time one will need to learn all of that methods? Infinite time….
Those problems drive evolution of Classical TRIZ form technique to algorithm, form algorithm (ARIZ) to the theory on making problem solving tools whenever we need them (Classical TRIZ). In turn Classical TRIZ and those problems give life to several more theories proposed by Altshuller for his followers: The Theory of Engineering System Development (TRTS modern leader is Youry Salamatov); The Theory of Creative Personality Development (TRTL – modern leader is Igor Vertkin); The General Theory of Powerful Thinking (OTSM – modern Leader Nikolai Khomenko). All of those new branches of Classical TRIZ were proposed by Altshuller himself as well as some initial background ideas. He also and supervised those research at the beginning. If some one here is interesting to understand how Classical TRIZ answers the Key Question we can talk about this here or whenever else.

My First infection with TRIZ and OTSM

2009-09-13T01:47:00.004-04:00

I was infected by TRIZ when it was converted from Algorithm to a Applied Scientific Theory for creating tools (instruments?) for solving non typical problems. It was 1979, book that original title was proposed by Genrich Altshuller - Exact Science Instead Of Creativity. Publisher was afraid of this challenged title and replace it by less challenged - Creativity As An Exact Science... I was electronical engineer and book was full of mechanical examples.
At that time I was not able to understand that TRIZ instruments is domain free tools for solving problems in various domain. So I was punished - my TRIZ education was postponed for one year.
In 1980 I attend my first 4 weeks training. It was 140 hour - 22 days – 50 participants. It was very first 4 week training in Minsk. The training was organized by Val Tsourikov – the author of Invention Machine project. Every single day we had homework for exercise on ARIZ… It was amazing.
Few weeks later my colleagues started laughing on me and say that TRIZ is nothing. I took one of the most difficult problems they have. It was a problem about sensitivity of thermocouple for Voltmeter of special kind. I got it… I propose a solution. I did it during few minutes. The have spend for the problem several months before this moment… it was easy. After this they stoped saying that TRIZ is stupid and nothing….
In 1981 my bosses forced me to teach other in my research institute for electronics devices development. Of cause I taught them ARIZ but very shortly just - one week. Just four homework… Surprise! Several students have solved their electronics problems and improve their devices sufficiently... I was impressed even more.... I stared teach others by my own voluntarily... It was fun! They also started to solve problems/ I helped several of my friends with their Ph.D. research. ARIZ did work in many domains not only in electronics!
In 1983 I found a way to contact Altshuller and started discussion by mail about ARIZ improvement. He invited me to the conference and then in 1984 he invited me first time for his 4 weeks training. Then two more of I attend two more of his trainings - in 1985 and in 1986.
His trainings were overflowed with deep knowledge and philosophy of classical TRIZ. I discover from him that ideality is not the core of the TRIZ and even not the core of the TRIZ philosophy. There are something more deep in The theory of developing tools for solving non typical problems than just ideality which is just one of 8 Laws of a system evolution in His system of laws. Nothing more, than just one of several others laws that are equally important. Because of G.Altshuller develop a system of laws but not random set of laws… Which law dominate depend on the stage of a system evolution. Ideality belongs to the stage named by Altshuller – Cinematics. Before cinematics is stage that had a name – Statics. Other lwas dominate on this stage but not ideality. Last stage of System evolution was named by Altshuller – Dynamics. It is transition to a next generation of the system, ideality do not dominate here as well. Above all Harmonization seems much better candidate for most important law. But in the same way: it dominates on certain stage of a system evolution.
During these training I have learned more about other TRIZ superstitions not only about ideality… One of many is oversimplified model of TRIZ problem solving as 4 boxes process that G.Altshuller described in 1975 much more detail in His paper “Solving non typical problems: Fundamental stages and mechanisms ” and then use this model to create ARIZ 77. However ARIZ-85-C started new S-curve of ARIZ evolution and use sufficiently different model of a problem solving process. This fact is also mostly unknown in the world TRIZ community.
In 1985 I was impressed by Altshuller’s ideas about OTSM – Russian acronym for General Theory of Powerful (Strong, Systemic) Thinking. He did believe that TRIZ should be transformed into more general and universal theory on solving non typical problems and became domain free tool. Since then under his supervision I was working on the developing this interesting subject. Several of his ideas on OTSM was very productive. In 1997 he look through my 50 pages paper on background of OTSM and say that now it seems as OTSM and then Altshuller allowed me use this acronym for my result... This conformation was much more important as I realized later… It was our last meeting. Then I was invited to Korea as a first Russian TRIZ expert and had no chance communicate with him during last year of his life....
Classical TRIZ is still unknown in the world and it is not so much hidden. Not so many people know about three postulates of classical TRIZ - assumptions were done by Altshuller for developing Classical TRIZ. Not so many people know what question was posed by Altshuller to be answered by Classical TRIZ... These theoretical backgrounds are still unknown. bet even practical tools do not used as well, for instance Altshuller's ARIZ-85-C. Instead people consider 40 principles as most popular tools of Classical TRIZ. However Altshuller remove this tool out of TRIZ at all. In ARIZ-85-C you can not find any reference to the matrix and 40 principles. Instead system of 76 Inventive Standard Solutions was integrated into ARIZ. And those who know ARIZ do not need any algorithms for using standards. Why? Because of the system of standards is organized according Altshuller’s system of laws and work as more practical tools to implement laws for practical needs. Same was done in ARIZ. Try to recognize laws of system evolution that underlining Altshuller’s ARIZ. It is a good exercise for self development in TRIZ understanding.
Many other important details are still unknown for TRIZ world wide community for Russian TRIZ community as well. There are many reasons for this status quo. It will be subject for other posts of this blog. In case that someone will show interest to know more about this point of Classical TRIZ History.
Classical TRIZ is not difficult and can be learned deeply by any one who apply certain efforts and has open mind to communicate.... Solving non typical problem need the same skills as skills needed to learn TRIZ itself in order to learn for deeply understanding of Classical TRIZ.

Book on OTSM-TRIZ for kids

2009-09-11T01:34:00.002-04:00

One of many books of Tatiana now available in English: Thoughtivity for kids.

http://www.goalqpc.com/shop_products_detail.cfm?PID=541

At YouTube you can find video of Tatiana and her colleagues who work with kids using her OTSM-TRIZ pedagogical assignments and mental exercises.

More detail on on Trainers of OTSM-TRIZ for kids Training in Jurmala next year

2009-09-11T01:21:00.008-04:00

Those people who are interested in using OTSM-TRIZ for developing thinking skills in kids can attend the training by Tatiana Sidorchuk and Alla Nesterenko:
Creativity and Key Competences of Children Aged 3-10 through OTSM-TRIZ

http://www.thinking-approach.org/index.php?menu=1&id=2916

EU citizen have chance to obtain grant from EU to attend the training. See the link for detail.
About trainers:

Alla Nesterenko Ph.D. TRIZ expert that conducted long term experiments with the same group of kids during 10 years. She leaded them through Elementary, Middle and High schools till graduation. She has used her own techniques and educational program se develop with her colleagues for several subjects: Math, Biology, Informational technology, Russian language and Literature, Physics. She was invited by Altshuller Institute as Key Note for TRIZCON 2007.
Tatiana Sidorchuk Ph.D. has lot of pilot places around Russia and conducted many experiments about using OTSM and Classical TRIZ. These experiments resulted in special educational program for kindergarten and for pedagogical colleges. Ministry of Education of Russia recommends the program to the pedagogical colleges of Russian Federation and awards her with medal of Yanush Korchak – the top award for Russian teachers. Tatiana was invited by Altshuller Institute as a keynote speaker for TRIZCON 2006.
Last years Tatiana and Alla cooperate to integrate their approaches for preschool and elementary school education to unified system. In one of Russian city 33 of 38 kindergartens use educational program for kids developed by Tatiana and 4 elementary schools of the city use integrated approach they developed with Alla.
There are ready to share they experience and knowledge with enthusiastic people who are interested in application OTSM-TRIZ for kids education.

OTSM-TRIZ for kids

2009-08-25T13:27:00.000-04:00

Educational projects for teachers from EU but not only:
http://www.thinking-approach.org/index.php?id=2916

Leaders of OTSM-TRIZ pedagogy Tatiana Sidorchuk and Alla Nesterenko
will deliver trainings for parents and teachers.
EU citizens who work in educational system of EU countries can get grant to attend these trainings in 2010.

Those who read Russian can get their books here:
www.volga-triz.ru

Video Illustrations for the book "Thoughtivity for kids" available on
www.youtube.com

Search there by OTSM-TRIZ for kids. Right now subtitles just in Russian soon will be in English as well.

Comment on Comment of Ellen Domb (August 29, 2008)

2009-05-09T11:52:00.004-04:00

Dear Ellen.
I am very sorry for so long delay with my reaction. As you knows I prefer customers with complex interdisciplinary problematic situations and long term relationships with them. This helps me to carry out my research and Develop OTSM further. And it is useful for my customers to improve their product services and strategy. Bad news here is that those projects involve me completely and I have not so much time to maintain my blog. I like a lot this way of communication But…. See above…
A few words on your wonderful comment:

I have partially reacted it in my comment to Anonymous (April 29, 2009) – ego of professionals that usually cover their genetic fear.

Here I would like to say that
my perception of Classical TRIZ, that I obtain from learning Classical TRIZ directly from Genrich Altshuller during 15 years of our cooperation, is very different from most of world wide TRIZ community (most of Russian TRIZ experts included).
According Altshuller TRIZ is not a method to solve typical inventive problems but it is tool to create appropriate method for solving nontypical problems that do not have any typical solution yet. Unfortunately many people consider TRIZ as a tool for solving typical problems because of lot of solutions already was discovered and organized in certain system by Altshuller. Some of TRIZ tools work in this way perfectly in the hands of professionals. But this is just a part of toolbox creqated by Altshuller and based on Classical TRIZ.
In my mind TRIZ is not method to handle problematic situation that could not be solved by typical solutions known for professional or TRIZ-experts. Yes ARIZ do work wonderful if people dedicate enough time to study it carefully.
Altshuller considered TRIZ as theoretical approach, tool to create tools for problem solving whenever we need them. And as my experience show if people do learn Classical TRIZ in this way they do develop a very good additional tools for certain particular needs or general tools for dealing with complex problems. Altshuller’s ARIZ 85-C is perfectly done for situations that contain dozen contradictions. If the problematic situation consists of hundred sub problems then in addition to ARIZ and other tools of the Classical TRIZ better apply OTSM Problem Flow Networks approach. Some of my students use TRIZ in this way.

Taking into account all above I can see that the method you describe in your comment is one of the tools that appear by using Inversion principle to some of known tools. This is too much unusual for many people and that is why they refuse it. However it is a rule of ARIZ related to Intensification and exaggeration technique. When we exaggerate situation so much that it seems we put up side down and many people afraid even think of this. But those who able to overcome their fear could benefit a lot.

In ARIZ 77 Altshuller introduced step that propose to solve inverse problem. This step was in the part till ARIZ -85-B. However Altshuller remove that part because of he consider that this part should appear as a special Algorithm that must be developed and used to pose the right problem in the right form and then start to use ARIZ 85-C. For many reasons he did not develop that algorithm and this step about inversion of the problematic situation disappear for TRIZ newcomers as well as many other useful instruments that was never translated yet into English. So the most advanced people have to discover them by themselves.

It was one of Altshuller’s projects he propose me in the end of 80s. To write comments on the TRIZ evolution and instruments that were created based on TRIZ. But the key point of the idea was to observe past of TRIZ evolution (stage 1 - as a method; stage 2 - as an algorithm; stage 3 - as a theory) as an evolution of General theory of Powerful thinking (OTSM is a Russian acronym for this). He leaded the TRIZ evolution to this target – and it was interesting to see which tool and ideas appear and survive and what ideas disappear and why. We have discussed with him a lot of those things. I am still working on this subject. But it is too much difficult to write all of those all along. I am looking for support to this project and for enthusiastic people who are interested to take part in this project. One of difficulties I have faced on this way is that those who learn TRIZ recently by using old books have a problem with using TRIZ terminology. Because of the terminology was changed sufficiently since the book Algorithm Of Innovation was published first in 1968. In additional appear lot of misinterpretations in translation of original papers on TRIZ. As a result it seems to me that I speak with my partners about absolutely different things. Even so they name this TRIZ and use TRIZ terminology…
But this is another story for my blog.

Limits of a Professionalism.

2008-05-09T17:40:00.002-04:00

Several years ago I was coaching group of professionals who were working on a very important and complicated technical problem. We were working for several months to reveal and eliminate system of contradictions. Step by step we eliminated professional stereotypes of participants and finally developed a set of interesting innovative ideas.
Members of the temporary group were happy with the results and wanted to apply computer simulation to make first step from a conceptual solution to an implemented solution. According their corporate rules they had to ask for permission from their boss to spend several days and to use a powerful computer. Reaction of the boss confused them a lot. He refused the proposed solution and prohibited to make simulation. It seems totally non-logical. To spend so much time to obtain a solution and refuse to spend a few days with computer simulation?

What is behind this strange behavior of Professionals and their Managers?

To answer this question we should consider what does it mean professionals?
How do they appear in our world?

A commonly shared answer to this question is simple and looks obvious. Professionals are knowledgeable and skillful people we usually invite to help us achieve certain goals or perform a certain project.

How do those people obtain their professional Knowledge and Skills?
The answer is clear as well: during their professional education and life experience.

Now is most crucial point of our investigation.
The key question: How does this professional knowledge appear in a professional educational system?

The answer is also clear: previous generations of professionals invent new ideas and implement them for practical needs. Then these ideas were transformed to professional typical solutions. New generations of professionals learn those typical solutions as a ready to use instruments for solving their professional problems.

The core words are – professional Typical solutions.

The second crucial issue – these typical solutions were invented somewhere in the past. Then these innovative ideas were transformed for professional needs in the following way: IF we have a certain problem: THEN we have to use the typical solution: .
Often professionals do not even realize why these typical solutions work and what is underlying knowledge for the specific typical solution is.

This entire works perfectly until professionals encounter a non typical problem. It means that the problem could not be solved by applying a well known typical solution. Innovative ideas are necessary.

“…The problems that exist in the world today cannot be solved by the level of thinking that created them... “
These words are attributed to Albert Einstein…

A research which was done by Altshuller and Igor Vertkin absolutely conform this conclusion. They analyzed about 1000 biographies of great innovators who changed the world.

A contemporary level of thinking is a level of thinking of the contemporary professionals in the specific fields. Their instruments and criteria of evaluation serve to generate typical solutions and compare different options of these solutions. Such instruments and criteria are not dedicated to evaluate innovative unusual ideas. It is well known among Classical TRIZ Professionals that if professionals say “Yes this is possible” then it is possible. However if professional say “No” we should be triple careful, especially if we were using support of professionals in Classical TRIZ and OTSM.
Why?

It is due to the fact that we could miss new innovative ideas and solutions that eventually will became typical professional solutions. But until this idea will be accepted and will become a typical solution we could have a temporary business monopoly.
In other world we could miss profitable innovation. And this is not a hypothesis. More than 60 years of TRIZ evolution prove this point many times in different country for various domains of human activities.

Professionalism has its own limits. These limits are defined by a typical solutions and theories that underlie these professional typical solutions. All of them produce professional stereotypes which block innovative thinking and acceptance of new ideas. A highly innovative solution often appears beyond the professional stereotypes. A telephone was refused by professionals of the telegraph company. The same reaction followed the radio broadcasting at its beginning. Before the Second World War IBM produced mechanical calculators and their professionals refused ideas of an electronic computer. Professionals who were producing mainframes refused the ideas of a personal computer. You can find lot of facts like these in the history of Mankind.

That is why when Professionals say – “No” we should be triple careful, especially if new ideas were obtained with the help of Professionals in Classical TRIZ and OTSM. OTSM-TRIZ professionals have a meta-knowledge and skills to develop innovative solutions across professionals’ stereotypes.

This meta-knowledge could be used much more efficiently if it would be a part of a corporate culture and managers would find a way how to arrange cooperation between their own professionals and professionals in Classical TRIZ and OTSM. This will lead eventually to a Company of Sustainable Innovation. Neither Classical TRIZ nor OTSM can replace specific professional knowledge, but both of them are capable of drastically increasing the use of the professional knowledge as well as of management and strategic planning.

Classical TRIZ education and Classical ARIZ

2008-02-10T16:06:00.001-05:00

What is TRIZ education and why it is so different form traditional education?
What role play ARIZ in the TRIZ education Process?
What is behid text of ARIZ? And some other aspect of growing competence in Classical TRIZ in mailing list: TRIZ topica:

http://lists.topica.com/lists/triz

Here you can subscribe for mailing list of worldwide TRIZ community. Feree of spam. Posts appear not so often but last two years more and more interesting. Useful discussion on various TRIZ and Innovation related topics…
Could be interesting for TRIZ beginners but not only…

Totaly stupid or totaly innovative?

2008-02-07T00:08:00.001-05:00

We live in the world of rapid changes. Each changes force us to innovate our life our organization and, finally, our own mind. More and more people start to talk about innovation: innovate product, innovate organizational structure, innovate business model, innovate educational system etc…
However, Innovation is not so easy way to survive in the world of rapid changes. There are lots of myths on innovation and stereotypes. In the middle of 1980s the author of TRIZ Genrich Altshuller and his pupil Igor Vertkin carried out very interesting research on the history of innovation. They study biographies of approximately 1000 people who have changed the world.
As a result they discover interesting trend about level of innovation. The higher level of innovation and changes the higher resistance of our society to those changes of the world.
Experience of my TRIZ and OTSM colleagues show that even perfect solution often faced with strong resistance inside the organization even this innovative solution could dramatically improve business position of the company Just one short example. This story happened several years ago. Company invites one of my TRIZ colleagues and to a certain project as a coach. Team of professionals was very cooperative and this is very important component of our work with companies and organizations. The better cooperation between OTSM-TRIZ and professionals the better result the team will obtain. During working session professional often say that the TRIZ proposals will not work. Often the same argument arise: “… nobody did this before…”. This is normal and typical professional’s reaction and we have also typical solution and technique to overcome this reaction and continuer work normally. According OTSM-TRIZ approaches we do not look for solution but develop it step by step instead. This is also one of mechanism to suppress mental inertia and achieve perfectly innovative conceptual solutions. Eventually mutual understanding appear between TRIZ professionals and experts of the company involved in the project. The story was quite typical at that time as well. And very interesting and unusual solutions were developed and accepted the company’s professionals. Is it happy end story?

Not at all! The point is that the decision maker did not participate those sessions and still was in the vicious circle of mental inertia and stereotypes. He did not accept the solution and refuse the rest of payment. His remark on the proposal: “Totally stupid… Nobody did this before.."

Bad luck?… Not at all! This is on of most typical reaction of many decision makers when they faced with very profitable but unusual ideas… The same stories has happened many hundreds year ago as well… but not as often as now, when instruments of Classical TRIZ and OTSM became more and more popular.

We live in the world of rapid changes. In half of year the same decision maker call to my colleagues and apologized. He also give a check with the rest of payment. What happen? The point is that their competitors implement almost the same solution and new product appears on the market. Similar stories start to appear more and more often. More and more my TRIZ colleagues tell me the same story.

May be next time I will tell you some of my private stories of this kind. But at this time just one conclusion: it is not enough to develop perfectly innovative idea. Doesn’t matter how this innovation appear: with or without TRIZ and OTSM. If corporate culture is not oriented to Sustainable Innovation even perfect solutions will not be implemented and perfect innovation appear in the trash box. Unfortunately mental inertia of Decision makers and their advisers is not the only enemy of perfect innovation and organization prosperity. What else we should overcome in order to make organization sustainably innovative? How instruments of Classical TRIZ and OTSM could help us? This is a subject of our blog and post-graduate program at INSA Strasbourg - Advanced Master of Innovative Design.