Innovation Analysis method
Helps examine technical contradictions and develop solutions that meet both requirements.
TRIZ abstracts a concrete technical problem as a contradiction and uses established solution principles to develop concepts. This introduction covers technical and physical contradictions; full TRIZ includes further analysis tools.
How can we improve one property without sacrificing the other required property?
System
Describe useful function, harmful effect and available system resources.
Contradiction
Technical: improving X worsens Y. Physical: one property must have opposite states.
Principles
Consult an appropriate matrix for technical parameters or separate physical opposites by time, place or condition.
Concepts
Sketch multiple concrete implementations using available resources.
Verification
Test concepts against both target properties and new side effects.
Translate abstract principles into concrete variants and measure both sides of the conflict; refine the model if unresolved.
For technical conflicts where improving one property worsens another.
Contradiction model, justified principle selection and concrete concepts with tests for both target properties.
The technical test brief keeps unverified assumptions open and defines the next technical test.
Fictional example
TRIZ abstracts a concrete technical problem as a contradiction and uses established solution principles to develop concepts. This introduction covers technical and physical contradictions; full TRIZ includes further analysis tools.
Which system should perform which function under which conditions?
Fictional: a portable laptop stand should be rigid in use and compact in transit.
Which improvement worsens what, or which property needs opposite states?
Rigid joints provide stability but prevent folding. The same joint must be immobile in use and mobile in transit.
Which reference and principle follow from the contradiction, and how?
Physical contradiction: separation in time. Principle 15, Dynamicity: joints unlock for transit and lock in use. No matrix lookup is claimed.
How is the principle implemented using available resources?
Folding joint with positive locking; existing frame surfaces act as stops.
Which measurements test both requirements and possible side effects?
Test under 5 kg load, folded dimensions and repeated locking; results remain open.
All example details are fictional and illustrate the application.
Describe system boundary, desired function, harmful effect and available resources using concrete data.
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.
TRIZ uses the structure of conflicts to move from concrete symptoms to more abstract solution principles. This reveals which existing patterns repeat and what kind of innovation could defuse the contradiction. Its strength lies in systematic derivation rather than inspiration.
TRIZ works because it treats technical or systemic contradictions not as a compromise problem but as a driver for inventive solutions. Its benefit increases when the core contradiction is named cleanly and checked against the concrete situation with the matching principles. Good application avoids ritualized principle lookups and translates insights into decisions for construction or process design, so new solution logic emerges from the scheme.
Start with a precise description of the contradiction and record which property should improve and what suffers as a result. The real lever lies where a principle sounds inspiring but doesn't fit the technical reality; then renewed problem clarification matters more than further searching. In the end, a few solid concepts remain along with a decision on which idea gets checked as a prototype.
The method guide walks execution through 5 phases, timing, 5 pitfalls, and clear stop criteria.
Open method guideYour perspective
Your feedback helps shape the next improvements to methodatlas.
Describe system boundary, desired function, harmful effect and available resources using concrete data.
To be confirmed
To be confirmed
Complete cycle Time: 60–120 minutes concept work; technical testing separately
Complete this worksheet on paper or in your own document during the work.
Which system should perform which function under which conditions?
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Which improvement worsens what, or which property needs opposite states?
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Which reference and principle follow from the contradiction, and how?
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How is the principle implemented using available resources?
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Which measurements test both requirements and possible side effects?
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Answer the prompts with your own information. Explicitly mark unknowns and assumptions.
Expected artifact: System model
Is the conflict concretely observable?
Entry:
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Expected artifact: Contradiction model
Are both conflict sides and conditions clear?
Entry:
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Expected artifact: Justified principles
Is the selection justified and traceable?
Entry:
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Expected artifact: Solution concepts
Does the concept resolve rather than merely move the conflict?
Entry:
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Expected artifact: Technical test brief
Are both target properties demonstrably satisfied?
Entry:
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Method guide: https://methodatlas.meierhoff-systems.de/en/methods/triz/run-sheet
Fitting alternatives with decision guidance, followed by other related methods.
Instead of TRIZ, when you want to use SCAMPER to vary an existing idea in a targeted way through fixed change questions.
Makes trade-off conflicts explicit, abstracts them into solution principles, and condenses testable concepts from them.
Expands a core question into topic fields, filters out patterns, and condenses interesting paths into a shortlist.
Combines dimensions and variants in a morphological box to find unusual solution combinations.
Brings problem space, prototype, and test findings together in a few days, enabling a well-founded decision.
Brings research, problem statement, prototype, and test learnings into a continuous learning loop.
