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Criterion
Paper illustration for Contradiction Analysis.
Innovation
Contradiction Analysis
A hypothetical failure makes concrete risks, signals, and fitting mitigations visible.
Decision Making
Pre-Mortem
Paper illustration of an assumption matrix with prioritized test cards
Decision Making
Assumption Surfacing
Paper illustration for TRIZ
Innovation
TRIZ
Purposedifferent
When a system should improve while another measure suffers as a result, the method makes the underlying conflict precisely formulable. It separates the desired effect from its side effect. This makes solutions possible that address the contradiction deliberately instead of half-heartedly.In early initiatives with many uncertainties, planning quickly turns too optimistic. A pre-mortem makes the expected failure visible in advance and sharpens the view of causes, gaps, and countermeasures.Plans often contain assumptions that were never openly stated and remain dangerous precisely because of that. Assumption Surfacing makes these silent premises visible and prioritizes which of them carry the initiative or could sink it.For technical contradictions or trade-offs, the method looks for solutions that resolve opposing requirements at the same time. It translates limits into an explicit picture of conflict that becomes workable. This produces not just compromises but more elegant principles.
Complexitydifferent
MediumLowLowHigh
Timedifferent
60-120 min20–45 min45-90 min1-4 h
Participantsdifferent
2-8Small cross-functional group2-82-8
Formatdifferent
WorkshopWorkshopWorkshop + asyncWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Contradiction Statement, Abstraction Notes, Solution Principles, Concept IdeasRisk list, Mitigation plan, Assumption logAssumption List, Critical Assumptions, Learning PlanContradiction Statement, Inventive Principles, Solution Concepts
Tagsno overlap
ContradictionsInnovationProblem solving
RiskDecisionFailurePlanning
AssumptionsRiskDecisionDiscovery
InnovationProblem solvingContradictionsCreativity
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