Have you heard the buzz about TRIZ, the Russian creative problem solving technique?

TRIZ (pronounced "trees") is a set of tools and techniques that provide a different, more systematic, approach to solving problems. Through its knowledge base of inventive solutions, the discipline of TRIZ helps you examine problems, reformulate them, and then develop novel solutions.

Where did TRIZ come from?

Although relatively new to the United States, TRIZ is based on decades of patent study, begun in 1946, by Russian researcher G.S. Altshuller. Throughout this investigation, Altshuller was convinced that creative problem-solving techniques that relied solely on brainstorming were erratic, unpredictable, and incomplete. Instead he believed that there were fundamental principles, accessible to anyone, that could guide inventive problem solving.

Examples of some of these universal principles, derived from the study of over 2 million patents, include:

* Segmentation, where an object is divided into independent parts, such as a railroad train and cars, resort timesharing arrangements, or sectional sofas.

* Consolidation where objects are combined into one part, such as a radio, CD player, and tape recorder into a "boom box."

Altshuller's research led to the development of TRIZ (the acronym for the Russian "theory of inventive problem solving.") As it has been further developed, TRIZ really involves a switch in thinking about problem solving as well as a set of tools and techniques to add to the creativity of the solution.

Altshuller's work has been continued and refined in over 100 research centers worldwide, in countries like Germany, Israel, Sweden, Belarus, Russia and the United States. Variations on TRIZ are now numerous and include different interpretations by students of Altshuller and their followers. One popular variation, described in the Harvard Business Review article "Finding your Innovation Sweet Spot" (March, 2003), is "SIT," or Systematic Inventive Thinking. SIT facilitators refer to themselves as the "grandchild of TRIZ" because of the way they have simplified and streamlined TRIZ.

Given the many variations on TRIZ, there is a wide variety of consultants, trainers, publications, conferences, and other resources available to help you explore its many facets. I encourage you to do so, as another set of tools in your creativity toolbox!

Mental Models continue to fascinate me -- especially because of the roles they play in leadership, conflict management, strategic planning, even career choices. Because they can cause serious distortions and misunderstandings and keep us from being our creative best, they need to be frequently tested and often replaced.

A recent article published to my website provides valuable tools to help switch mental models and enjoy the full benefit of a broader, more inclusive and creative perspective.