View methods side by side.
Choose up to four methods. Add them using the search and share the comparison by copying its link.
| Criterion |  Engineering Fault Isolation |  Innovation TRIZ |  Innovation SCAMPER |  Innovation Contradiction Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purposedifferent | In technical failures, the visible symptom often gets mixed up with the actual cause. Fault Isolation narrows the fault space and progressively reduces which part of the system is truly affected. | 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. | For an existing solution under pressure to change, the method deliberately opens space for systematic variants. It directs attention to rebuilding, combining, and repurposing rather than only new basic ideas. This produces concrete evolution paths for products, offerings, or workflows. | 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. |
Complexitydifferent | Medium | High | Low | Medium |
Timedifferent | 30-180 min | 1-4 h | 30-60 min | 60-120 min |
Participantsdifferent | 1-6 | 2-8 | 2-10 | 2-8 |
Formatdifferent | Workshop + async | Workshop + async | Workshop | Workshop |
Outputdifferent | Fault Isolation Map, Test Log, Excluded Hypotheses, Narrowed Fault Area | Contradiction Statement, Inventive Principles, Solution Concepts | SCAMPER Idea List, Concept Shortlist, Variation Notes | Contradiction Statement, Abstraction Notes, Solution Principles, Concept Ideas |
Tagsno overlap | TroubleshootingDiagnosisEngineering | InnovationProblem solvingContradictionsCreativity | BrainstormingIdeationCreativityReframingInnovation | ContradictionsInnovationProblem solving |