How can the TRIZ Contradiction Matrix improve your creative process?

2 What is a contradiction?

A contradiction is a situation where you want to improve one aspect of a system or a product, but doing so worsens another aspect. For example, you might want to make a car faster, but that would increase its fuel consumption. Or you might want to make a smartphone thinner, but that would reduce its battery life. Contradictions are the source of many problems and challenges, but also the opportunities for innovation and breakthroughs. TRIZ provides a systematic way to resolve contradictions using inventive principles.

3 What is the TRIZ Contradiction Matrix?

The TRIZ Contradiction Matrix is a table that helps you find the best inventive principles to solve your contradiction. It has 39 rows and 39 columns, each representing a common engineering parameter, such as weight, speed, reliability, cost, etc. The rows are the parameters that you want to improve, and the columns are the parameters that get worse as a result. Each cell of the matrix contains a set of numbers that correspond to the 40 inventive principles of TRIZ. These are the general guidelines or rules that can help you overcome the contradiction and generate innovative solutions.

4 How does the TRIZ Contradiction Matrix work?

To use the TRIZ Contradiction Matrix, you need to first define your problem and identify the contradiction. Then, locate the row and column that match the parameters, and note down the numbers in the corresponding cell. Subsequently, use the list of the 40 inventive principles of TRIZ to find those that match the numbers in the cell. Finally, use creativity and imagination to apply these principles to your problem and generate ideas, which should be evaluated according to their feasibility and effectiveness.

5 How can the TRIZ Contradiction Matrix improve your creative process?

The TRIZ Contradiction Matrix is an effective tool for improving the creative process. It can help you focus on the root cause of a problem, rather than the symptoms or constraints, and avoid trial and error or random brainstorming. The matrix provides access to a proven and structured database of inventive principles derived from successful inventions and innovations. This can save time and effort while increasing the chances of finding a suitable solution. Moreover, it helps expand thinking and explore new possibilities by applying inventive principles, challenging assumptions, and breaking free from mental inertia. Combining, modifying, or adapting the principles to fit specific contexts and needs can also be beneficial. Ultimately, the TRIZ Contradiction Matrix can help you overcome trade-offs and conflicts that often limit creative thinking, allowing you to discover new ways to improve your system or product and generate innovative solutions that satisfy goals and requirements.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?