Report from the Process of Innovation -Tuesday Morning

Ellen Domb

The chairman’s opening address set the theme for the conference:   Joe Ficalora from SBTI used Steve Jobs’ quote, “Innovation is the difference between followers and leaders” as the kickoff message for the conference.   His Six Sigma background showed through … Read More

Report from the Process of Innovation Conference

Ellen Domb

I’m in Chicago IL USA this week at the conference organized by IQPC on the Process of Innovation.  I’ll be reporting progressively throughout the week on the highlights of the conference.  (If anyone is reading this in the Chicago … Read More

Theories of Innovation

Praveen Gupta

There has been much discussion lately about various innovation methodologies. As innovation is becoming an imperative for any for-profit organization, there is confusion about how to go about innovating. Many companies have been innovating for decades, so there must … Read More

Race Cars and Corporations

Michael S. Slocum

Race cars have to perform three functions to be successful. One, they have to accelerate. Two, they have to brake. Three, they have to corner. If a car has any chance of winning, it has to perform all … Read More

Innovation is Different and So Are People

Jack Hipple

When we are “innovating,” it is seldom that all the people we work with and interface with are the same as us from virtually any perspective. They have different backgrounds, experiences, motivations, and styles of behavior. These different type … Read More

Protecting the Interior Surface of Sewage Pipelines

As a result of bacterial activity, the strength of pipelines’ concrete weakens and leads to the destruction of pipes. An effective ways to protect this arching (vaulting) part of pipelines is to spray the pipeline interiors with protective solutions.Read More

Welcome to the August 2007 Issue of The TRIZ Journal!

August is yet another month full of TRIZ news and stories to share. As ever, we share articles that cover a variety of TRIZ topics, including a TRIZ game for children, a different way to look at su-field analysis and another paper presented at TRIZCON2007.Read More

Student Corner: Whiz Kids Create Award-Winning TRIZ Game

We invented a fun, simple game to teach kids how to invent and problem solve, based on TRIZ principles. TRIZ was a complex methodology for engineers and so to eliminate complexity we used the principals of Yu-Gi-Oh!, Pokemon and Digimon cards.Read More

Generalized Solutions for Su-field Analysis

To help users carry out su-field analysis and find the right problem-solving solutions in an easy manner, this paper summarizes/condenses the 76 standard solutions into seven general principles with graphic demonstrations and examples.Read More

Super Effects: the Synergistic Effects of TRIZ

Just one trend of evolution (out of more than thirty) can be used as a competitive weapon. Trends not only tell us where our products are on their evolutionary journey versus a competitor’s product, for example, but also where products must evolve.Read More

Creativity@Work

Praveen Gupta

I am always surprised at people being amazed of innovation and ignorant of creativity in the work place. Innovation is a buzzword in the business world today, while creativity is perceived to be of some nuisance. It is perceived that … Read More

News from TRIZ-fest in Moscow

Ellen Domb

Mark Barkan, President of Matriz and a freqent author for The TRIZ Journal, has just sent a report on the “TRIZ-fest” hosted by MATRIZ in Moscow.   The event combined a business meeting, a technical conference, and graduate school, with election of … Read More

The Economics of Innovation

Michael S. Slocum

You know from the field of psychology that behavior is a function of values, so an organization has to value innovation if it is to consistently engage in innovative behaviors. But what if your organization doesn’t value innovation … Read More

Innovation From a Six Sigma View

Katie Barry

Over at the iSixSigma Blogosphere, blogger Robin Barnwell recently wrote about innovation.

Robin states that “innovation is a very personal endeavour rather than a group endeavour. What I have seen a number of times is innovation happening like a … Read More

Predictable Futures: Using Patterns of System Evolution

James Todhunter

Recently, a colleague asked me if the Patterns of System Evolution from TRIZ could be used by non-TRIZ practitioners.  At first the question struck me as being rather odd; it seemed sort of like asking if a map could … Read More

The People Side of Innovation

Jack Hipple

Comments at meetings by senior executives such as “now that the cutbacks are over, we can get on with innovation” really concern me. Research and Technology magazine’s recent annual surveys show innovation as a #1 issue, but five years … Read More

Growing Tomatoes in the Desert

Cass Pursell

In late June, the Committee for Economic Development issued the latest in a series of reports by business think tanks illustrating a growing change in the way American business is thinking about value. “Built to Last: Focusing Corporations on … Read More

About Commentator: Jack Hipple

Jack Hipple

Jack is principal, Innovation-TRIZ Associates, which provides training and consulting in breakthrough problem solving and organizational innovation. He is a chemical engineering graduate of Carnegie Mellon University with 30 years of industrial experience with Dow Chemical, Ansell Edmont and … Read More

The Innovation Constraint

Michael S. Slocum

Innovation has been practiced in an unintentional and non-focused manner for far too long. The focus on providing structure to a business was placed on other areas of interest. Various focal points have been targeted with great success … Read More

The Importance of Good Innovation Habits

James Todhunter

Over on the Innovate On Purpose blog, Jeffrey Phillips talks about making ideation productive.  He makes three key points.

First, enterprises should take on a proactive approach to innovation.  This is undeniably true.  The practice of waiting for the … Read More