This was triggered by a link from Peter Gluck. (Thank you, Peter) Maybe You do'nt know the problem-solving strategy of Zwicky, called the morphological box. See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritz_Zwicky (Zwicky was an astronomer)
I always was quite unhappy with that. It is sort of a bureaucratic 'solution'. The TRIZ strategy, developed by the Russian Altshuller is quite different: ... Following Altshuller's insight, the theory developed on a foundation of extensive research covering hundreds of thousands of inventions across many different fields to produce a theory which defines generalisable patterns in the nature of inventive solutions and the distinguishing characteristics of the problems that these inventions have overcome. ... It is much more sophisticated than Zwicky's approach: ... Identifying a problem: contradictions Altshuller believed that inventive problems stem from contradictions (one of the basic TRIZ concepts) between two or more elements, such as, "If we want more acceleration, we need a larger engine; but that will increase the cost of the car," that is, more of something desirable also brings more of something less desirable, or less of something else also desirable. These are called technical contradictions by Altshuller. He also defined so-called physical or inherent contradictions: More of one thing and less of the same thing may both be desired in the same system. For instance, a higher temperature may be needed to melt a compound more rapidly, but a lower temperature may be needed to achieve a homogeneous mixture. An inventive situation which challenges us to be inventive, might involve several such contradictions. Conventional solutions typically "trade" one contradictory parameter for another; no special inventiveness is needed for that. RATHER, THE INVENTOR WOULD DEVELOP A CREATIVE APPROACH FOR RESOLVING THE CONTRADICTION, such as inventing an engine that produces more acceleration without increasing the cost of the engine. ... See here for an entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRIZ Food for thought. Guenter ________________________________
