The TRIZ Journal

	Bookmark This Page Email This Page Format for Printing

Solution Dynamics as a Function of Resolution Method (Physical Contradiction v. Technical Contradiction)

[ Previous ] [ Home Page ] [ Up 1 Level ] [ Next ]

Michael S. Slocum, K.O.St.I., Ph.D.
Ontro, Inc.
13250 Gregg Street
Poway, CA 92064 USA
mslocum@ontro.com

Ellen Domb, Ph.D.
PQR Group
190 North Mountain Avenue
Upland, CA 91786 USA
Ellendomb@compuserve.com

(Corresponding author)
Catherine Lundberg, B.Sc.
Ontro, Inc.
clundberg@ontro.com

Some teachers of TRIZ, and particularly those who base their teaching method on the use of ARIZ, have made the claim that higher level solutions to problems are generated by analyzing the physical contradictions that give rise to the problem, relative to the solutions generated by addressing the technical contradictions.

Ontro Inc. has evaluated 319 solved problems related to the technology of self-heating food containers during the last three years. These cases were used as a database to evaluate the effectiveness of problem solving from the physical contradiction and technical contradiction points of view.

Four measures of the level of innovation were developed, with priority given to solutions that were implemented in products, solutions that resulted in patents or patent disclosures, and solutions that resulted in declarations of trade secrecy (and the decision not to pursue patents for competitive reasons). The highest implementation effectiveness rating was found for problems that had been analyzed both as physical and technical contradictions. This result has led to a decision to analyze all problems from both points of view in the future, regardless of the original formulation of the problem.

Problems are resolvable utilizing a number of solution techniques available to the TRIZ practitioner. Basic solution techniques may be applied, or as necessary, advanced techniques may be used. Table 1 divides these techniques into basic and advanced groups (1,2,3,4,5).

It is Contradiction Matrix Theory (CMT) that is of primary concern in this research paper.

A specific technical problem, when described using the contradiction approach, may be classified as a technical contradiction (TC), a physical contradiction (PC), or an administrative contradiction (AC). These contradictions may be represented utilizing the common phrasing found in Table 2:

The technical and physical contradictions will be addressed to further prepare the foundation of our discovery.

Consider two performance characteristics of a technical system (TS) Cp and Cp’. Also, allow three levels of adjustment for Cp and Cp’; Cp{x,y,z} and Cp’{a,b,c}. As Cp improves in response to stimuli x, y, and z the resultant Cp’ response is reflected in a negative slope for a, b, and c (1).

Enhancing the performance for Cp has an inverse effect on Cp’. This dependence is the central tenant of the technical contradiction. This inverse-dependence must be broken in order to remove the TC and produce a solution that will increase the ideality of the system ⁽¹⁾.

The resolution of the TC follows a simple algorithm where basic steps are represented in Figure 2:

The CMT solution space is therefore defined by the matrix structure inherent in the contradiction matrix:

The contradiction definition is highly subjective as the situation may be defined (within the limited available permutations) in many different manners. Each problem definition (step 2) yields several innovative principles (40 Principles utilized transitioning from step 2 to step 3) that must be connected to the specific problem and any potential resolution using analogic thought (which is very difficult to master for a large sub-set of potential CMT users).

Consider a technical system (TS) where there is a requirement for a characteristic, D, and a requirement for the equivalent anti-characteristic, D-. A technical system with this bi-polar feature requirement is approachable in the TRIZ system by employing the following heuristic:

The algorithm for resolution of a physical contradiction is represented in Figure 4:

This algorithm is devoid of the strong reliance on the analogic thought phase prevalent in the resolution of a technical contradiction (see Figure 2 Steps 3 and 4). The lack of a solution matrix also allows solution vectoring to progress in a completely unrestricted manner.

It is important to note that technical contradictions may be converted to physical contradictions and vice versa. This allows for the possibility of each problem present in a TS to be assessed utilizing the processes summarized in Figures 2 and 4. If the solution space for a TC is defined by {T} and the solution space for a PC is defined by {P} and (from the previous discussion) {P}>{T}; then [{P}+{T}]>>{P} or {T}. Data to support this conjecture is presented in the following section.

A log of problems and solutions is kept at Ontro, Inc. This log was utilized to provide core data for analysis to support (or refute) the aforementioned conjecture. Table 4 indicates the problems reviewed as categorized by the year in which they were addressed.

The problem set was evaluated for the particular contradiction structure that was utilized for resolution. In all of the cases there where several methods of resolution employed but the foundational contradiction was either a TC or a PC⁽²⁾. Table 5 presents this distribution:

The potential solutions produced during the application of the TRIZ Methodology were either reduced to practice (implemented) or discarded due to perceivably insurmountable secondary problems. Those solutions that were implemented in part or entirety were considered to have been completely implemented. The implementation strength is presented in Table 8:

Considering the solution density (SOLd) and the solution implementation (SOL i), several cursory conclusion may be made:

1. Evaluating a problem state as a TC and a PC increases the solution density
2. Evaluating a problem state as a PC®{P}>{T}
3. More TC solutions are implemented than PC solutions indicating the following possibility: PC solutions are more complex than TC solutions (although this is NOT categorically correct).
4. {P}>{T}
5. [{P}+{T}]>>{P} or {T}
6. The implementation of those solutions that are derived from TC and PC structure have a higher implementation than those from either PC or TC. This may be due to the higher SOLstr associated which would have a tendency to command more resources.

The strength of the implemented solutions was also considered as an important component of this evaluation. Altshuller’s Levels of Innovation were utilized as the metric by which an implemented solution was rated. Table 9 demonstrates the implemented solution innovative level as a function of TC, PC, or TC and PC:

Table 9: Innovative Levels of Implemented Solutions*⁽³⁾

A composite solution strength score was determined by multiplying the number of solutions for each innovative level by the level itself. This yielded raw scores as demonstrated in Table 10:

The Raw Solution Strength was then divided by the total number of implemented solutions to yield the Solution Strength (SOLstr):

Since we have gathered several quantitative scores for the problems under review we may now calculate composite scores for each contradiction type:

4. Conclusions:

The solution density, solution strength, and implementation of solutions to problems that were analyzed both as physical and technical contradictions yielded higher scores in all three metrics and subsequently the composite score by an order of magnitude. Although the problems treated as physical contradictions had a higher composite score than those analyzed by technical contradictions, the extremely high composite score of those treated both way suggests that we should stop trying to decide how to treat a problem, and treat all problems both ways.

References:

1. Slocum, M.S., Clapp, T.G., (1999-2002) TE589A: The Theory of Inventive Problem Solving , graduate course material at North Carolina State University
2. Salamatov, Yu., edited by Souchkov, V., and Slocum, M., (1999) TRIZ: The Right Solution at the Right Time, Insytec B.V., Hattem, The Netherlands. ISBN 90-804680-1-0
3. Savransky, S.D., (2000) Engineering of Creativity, CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, Florida, USA. ISBN 0-8493-2255-3
4. Terninko, J., Zusman, A., Zlotin, B., (1998) Systematic Innovation, CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, Florida, USA. ISBN 1-57444-111-6
5. Altshuller, G., (1984) Creativity as an Exact Science, Gordon and Breach Science Publishers Inc., New York, USA, ISBN 0-677-21230-5
6. Altshuller, G., (1999) The Innovation Algorithm, Technical Innovation Center, Worcester, MA, USA, ISBN 0-9640740-4-4
7. Gasanov, A.M., Gochman, B.M., Yefimochkin, A.P., Kokin, S.M., Sopelnyak, A.G., (1995) Birth of an Invention, Interpraks, Moscow, USSR
8. Rantanen, K., Domb, E., (2002) Simplified TRIZ, CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, Florida, USA, ISBN 1-57444-323-2

About the Authors:

Michael S. Slocum, K.O.St.I., Ph.D.
Vice President of Science and Engineering, Ontro
With over 14 years of research and development experience at ITT Space and Special Projects and the U.S. Army Military Intelligence, Dr. Michael Slocum has become an expert in Problem Solving, Research and Development, Engineering, and Quality. In Dr. Slocum's career, he has worked on the TITAN missile, SeaWolf submarine, Trident submarine, International Space Station, and numerous satellite programs. Most recently, Dr. Slocum served as Principal and Chief Scientist of The Inventioneering Company where he specialized in solving previously intractable technical problems.

Dr. Slocum studied at the U.S. Army Intelligence School and Trinity College where he earned his Ph.D. in Physics. He currently is an Adjunct Professor and a member of the Graduate Faculty at North Carolina State University where he teaches a graduate course on the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving. Dr. Slocum is an editor of the TRIZ Journal (www.triz-journal.com). Dr. Slocum was the founding editor of “Izobretenia” (Journal for the Altshuller Institute for TRIZ Studies), is a member of the ETRIA Global Coordination Group, the New Technology Review Panel of the NFPA, Sigma Xi, IFT, SPE, New York Academy of Sciences, Association for the Advancement of the Sciences, American Physical Society, ASM, and several other relevant professional societies. Dr. Slocum has authored over 80 scientific papers and was the technical editor for TRIZ: The Right Solution at the Right Time. Dr. Slocum was recently knighted in recognition of his contributions to science and society.

Ellen Domb, Ph.D.
President, PQR Group
Ellen Domb is the President of The PQR Group, a consulting firm specializing in helping organizations maximize customer satisfaction, productivity and profits through strategic management of quality and technology. She has been a Director of the Aerojet Electronic Systems Division with specific responsibility for Total Quality Management implementation. She guided Aerojet and many of its suppliers in developing and using systems to improve the quality of their processes, products and services, shorten development time for new products and services, and achieve dramatic increases in customer satisfaction through continuous process improvement.

Dr. Domb's academic background ranges from Stanford University's Executive Management Program to a Ph.D. in physics from Temple University and a bachelor's degree from MIT. She is a founding board member and Judge for the California Council on Quality and Service. She is a charter member of the Quality Function Deployment Institute, co-founder of CTQ Media LLC, and editor of The TRIZ Journal, http://www.triz-journal.com.

Dr. Domb speaks frequently to business and professional groups on the impact of TQM on organizations and on accelerating new product development using TRIZ and quality function deployment. She is an instructor for San Diego State University, The Claremont Graduate School, George Washington University, GOAL/QPC, and The American Supplier Institute. She is the co-author of Beyond Strategic Vision, Strategic Planning that Makes Things Happen, Management Readings in TQM, Developing Your Concurrent Engineering Plan, The Voice of the Customer: Find it! Use it! and of courses and papers on the applications of quality function deployment and TRIZ.

Catherine O. Lundberg, B.Sc.
Research and Development Engineer, Ontro
Educated at Michigan State, Catherine received her Bachelor of Science in Chemical-physics. During her schooling, she was involved in a research group at the University of South Carolina under the direction of Dr. Jorge Seminario. At USC, Catherine modified the Universal Force Field, a common Force Field used in molecular modeling. In addition to the research performed at USC, Catherine was involved in research at the National Super-conducting Cyclotron Laboratory as well as in the Physical Chemistry Department.

Currently, Catherine is working as and research and development engineer at Ontro, Inc.

Endnotes:

1. (5,1)
2. The core of data (319 case studies) was reviewed in order to determine if there were any distinguishing features associated with those problems evaluated using the TC and PC method that were not present in those problems evaluated as only a TC or a PC. There is no significant correlation between the technical system and the contradiction method employed as a resolution vector.
3. * The raw score is listed in parenthesis, ( )

(back to top)