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Brief description of creativity technique

TRIZ, also known as the theory of inventive problem solving, is a technique that fosters invention for project teams who have become stuck while trying to solve a business challenge. It provides data on similar past projects that can help teams find a new path forward.

TRIZ (pronounced “trees”) started in Russia. It involves a technique for problem solving created by observing the commonalities in solutions discovered in the past. Created by Genrich Altshuller in the former Soviet Union, the Six Sigma technique recognizes that certain patterns emerge whenever inventions are made.

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Exercise for skills at the level of:

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Individual

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Team

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Leadership

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Organization

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Learning objectives of the exercise

One of the most significant contributions of TRIZ was that it identified strategies and patterns for resolving contradictions: both very generic like resolving contradictions in time and space, and more specific, like “Cοnsider doing the opposite action instead of an intended one”. The high degree of abstraction makes major discoveries and principles of TRIZ domain- independent with respect to creative problem solving. Even the current system of generic principles and patterns of TRIZ can be applied to almost every man-made system created to add a certain value. Today TRIZ is used in business, software architectures, marketing, advertising, and pedagogy.

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Skills developed/enhanced by the exercise

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Adaptability

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Communication

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Collaboration

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Curiosity

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Initiative

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Leadership

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Problem-solving

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Self-discipline

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Tolerance of ambiguity, uncertainty and complexity

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Others, please specify

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Attentiveness

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Confidence

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Critical Thinking

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Divergent thinking skills

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Inventiveness

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Negotiating skills

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Resilience

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Strategic thinking

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Visualisation

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Duration

In person: 5+ hours

Online: 5+ hours

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How many people are needed?

10-12 people

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Materials required

In person: PowerPoint, template, paper + pen/pencil

Online: PowerPoint, template, paper + pen/pencil

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Instructions for conducting the exercise

Step 1: Explain the TRIZ method and the 40 Inventive principles. Distribute the list of 39 parameters and 40 principles.
Step 2: Present the Problem in a Single Slide: You can start by presenting a problem in the form of a single slide.
Step 3: Divide students in teams in order to work on the same problem. Depending on the number of teams, each group can work on a selected number of principles
Step 4: Have each team present their findings Step 5: Combine suggested solutions
Step 6: Discuss the different approaches and different solutions
Step 7: Add a Summary to Conclude the Presentation with a “prototype” solution
Step 8: discussion of student-generated solutions

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Case study from desk research