Appunti methods and tools for systematic innovation - Parte B

Politecnico di Milano

School of Industrial and Information Engineering

MSc in Mechanical Engineering

2021-2022 Academic Year

Methods and tools for systematic innovation

Module B

Lecture notes

Summary:

1. Idea generation for innovation: obstacles

1.1. Problem solving process

1.2. Psychological tools

2. System thinking

2.1. Conceptual maps

3. Functional modelling

3.1. EMS model

3.2. TRIZ model

4. Design cognitive processes and analogies

4.1. Design by analogy

5. Types of problem solving strategies

5.1. How to deliver the desired function

5.2. How to improve an insufficient useful function

5.3. How to avoid undesired/harmful functions

5.4. How to avoid an excessive consumption of resources

6. Bio-inspired design

6.1. How to perform a bio-inspired design approach

7. Life cycle assessment in decision-making for design

8. TRIZ: theory of inventive problem solving

8.1. Law of engineering systems evolution

8.2. Contradictions

9. Contradiction modelling and logic of ARIZ

9.1. Separation strategies 2

1 – Idea generation for innovation: obstacles

There are some practical procedures that can be exploited in order to overcome some of the most

typical obstacles that can born when we are dealing with the process of idea generation.

We can see that it is possible to identify three main types of obstacles: the first one is called

psychological inertia, normally, there are many design choices that we take for granted, but that

could be changed. There are many scenarios that could be considered, but they are ignored due to

psychological inertia. Humans tend to create mental patterns that should make life easier in order

to avoid spending time to take decisions for actions that are made on daily basis.

The more someone becomes expert in a specific field, the more he becomes efficient, but on the

other hand, he also becomes more exposed to the problem of psychological inertia. The question

that someone should ask when is dealing with mental inertia is: “am I solving the right problem?”

To avoid mental inertia, many techniques try to think a solution in all the possible directions. This

method can work, but is not efficient, since it requires too much time in order to consider and

elaborate all the possible ideas.

The second obstacle that can appear during idea generation is the lack of structured approach.

Which approach should we adopt to solve the problem? Is there a model to follow for the

solution? 3

In some situations, it is possible to perform experimental tests or to create prototypes to better

understand how to solve the problem, nevertheless, in many other situations, this is not possible,

so, it is necessary to find another way. It is better to analyse the problem through an abstract

representation, because then it will be possible to apply some general tools: we want to do the

same with the innovation task, so, find a way to generally represent the problem and then apply

general procedures for the solution generation.

The main concept that must be formulated when dealing with a task is: what is the most desirable

result? The third obstacle is design conflicts: It could frequently happen that during the solution

process some conflicts may emerge: a particular choice could improve some result, but damage

others. When we are in this situation it is important to understand which is the most desirable

result, considering the available resources. The optimal solution is the best configuration of the

design parameters of the problem. In other words, it can be seen as the best compromise.

However, it must be considered that often, the best solution it is not to accept a compromise, but

to propose something that goes beyond: something that completely change the rules of the game.

In other words, introducing and changing the parameters of the problem.

OBSTACLES FOR IDEA GENERATION:

• Psychlogical inertia

• Lack of strucutured approach

• Design conflicts

1.1 Problem solving process

-

Typically, we start from a certain design task, and the first thing to do is to select the proper

problem to analyse. It can be useful to split the main problem in several smaller problems that will

be considered separately. For every specific task, there are different alternative options to look at.

It should be noticed that the design activity is a continuous decision problem. Every time that a

new problem comes out, it must be evaluated the best possible way to solve it. A complex design

situation does not only require to generate new ideas, but also to take decisions.

Once that we have selected one or more problems, we should find a way to model them. We need

a language through which we can abstractly model the problem. After that we have found this

language, we can use a general method to solve the problem, so, to find a model of the solution.

4

1.2 – Psychological tools

Brainstorming is the first psychological tool that we are going to examinate. It is required to a

group of people to approach a problem and generate ideas. Then, it will be asked to a second

group to analyse those ideas. The generation process should be absolutely free and consider also

the ideas which are less achievable or can look stupid. One of the key points is that the ideas are

reported anonymously, so that the decision won’t be influenced by who made the idea. During

brainstorming, it is important to be open to any proposal and listen to anything that comes out.

An evolution of brainstorming is the 6-3-5 brain writing, where six participants come out with an

idea on a particular problem, and then they should come out with new ideas, starting from the

ones previously made by others. By doing so, it is possible to obtain a long list of new ideas.

Synectic: the term means “joining together different and apparently irrelevant elements”. A

synectic group is a group made by people with different occupations, that join together to solve a

problem, by combining elements that are not superimposable. Through synectic is possible to

analyse the problem under different points of view. Also in this procedure, it is important to look

at any ideas, even if they can look stupid or not achievable, since the ultimate goal is to look

beyond our standard thinking.

Forced analogy: in forced analogy, participants generate a list of random things, and write them

on cards. For each item, participants are going to write qualities and attributes. The cards are then

distributed randomly between the participants, which then use the cards to develop analogies

with the problem that must be solved. “How is the problem similar to [random object]?”. Even if a

lot of comparisons could look stupid at first, a lot of ideas could come out.

The main goal is to find properties of the random object that can be considered also in the

problem of the analysis. 5

2 - System thinking

In the process that we would like to follow, as previously said, we want to define an abstract

language that generalize the problem; after doing that, what we want to do is to apply general

rules that permit to solve the problem. This means that the process that we want to follow starts

from the particular case, it gets generalized in order to apply general solutions, and then comes

back to the particular case.

What we are going to see now, is how to select a specific problem from a general design task.

If we have to consider a word, and we are required to associate other words to it, we can

associate words which are a subsystem of the word, or instead words related to “supersystems”

which contain that first word. Second, it is possible to make associations related to the use that is

possible to do of that word. When we are dealing with a design task, it is important to look both at

the details and at the global environment of the task.

It is also important to look at the time dimension: look at the evolution of the task, at its past and

at its probable future, in order to understand what the dynamic of the process is.

System thinking is the process of understanding which are the mutual influences of elements in a

given environment. While designing in a complex situation, having a system thinking approach is

essential in order to avoid undesired situations.

Systems Thinking has been defined as an approach to problem solving, by viewing "problems" as

parts of an overall system, rather than seeing it just as a specific part, than, reacting to specific

part, outcomes or events and

potentially contributing to

further development of

unintended consequences.

Time can have three different

interpretations, based on the

situation, we can choose the

most suitable one.

1- Technical evolution: this meaning is referred to historical time; it means analyse what

principle was used in the past, what principle is currently used, and finally, what principle

might be used in the future to perform the same task.

By comparing past solutions with current ones, it is possible to understand which are the

general tendencies of a given technology.

6

2- Phases of a process: analyse which are the phases that have preceded the process under

analysis and try to identify the next ones. Before analysing a process, we should ask

ourselves: “which were the previous phases of this process?”

Sometimes, before solving the problem, could be necessary to do something before or

after, that could make easier to solve the problem. Another important question to ask is

“can we solve the problem in a different phase?”. It is essential to identify the phases

during which is easier to solve the problem.

3- Cause and effect chains: we have to consider which element or event has caused the

current situation. In other situation, we may have to understand which are the

consequences of a particular event (for example a failure). Typically, a way to solve

problems is prevention. Another indirect way to solve it is mitigate/compensate the

consequences of the problem. In many situations, working on these aspects could be more

efficient than directly facing the problem. It is important to understand what it means

“preventing” or “compensating” for that particular task. Failure

Root cause Failure mode effects

We call system operator a multi view of the system, which considers past and present,

supersystems and subsystems. While looking for resources, the System

Operator helps focusing the attention

on every relevant aspect of the system

and its environment, by analysing any

time stage at any detail level with a

systematic approach.

It can be useful to also add indicators to

better understand the cause-effect

relationships of the task.

After doing that, we can represent the

problem through a conceptual map,

which can be useful to better visualize

the problem under a global point of

view.

2.1 – Conceptual maps

Concept maps are graphical tools for organizing and representing knowledge. The aim of a

conceptual map is to represent the most important concepts, and the relationships that exist

between them; in fact, the two main elements of a conceptual map are nodes and links. When we

want to create a conceptual map, the first thing to do, is to identify the problem. What is a

problem? A problem is whatever we are not comfortable with, whatever objective or condition we

would like to achieve.

After that we have identified the problem, this one is first thing that we should put in it.

Second, come the partial solutions, which are whatever partially addresses the problem or

mitigate it. 7

Then there are the information needed (questions to experts), which are all the information that

could be useful in order to find a solution or better understand the problem. In a real scenario,

information can come from the company, from partners, or from knowledge sources (patents,

handbooks, standards etc…)

The last type of elements are the constraints, which are all the elements of the problem that

cannot be modified. It is important to notice that constraints are different from problems.

Constraints can come from clients, can be represented by physical laws, contracts or

specifications, standards and rules etc… It is important to not confuse constraints with problems,

however, we must always check if a particular constraint can be turned into a problem, and so, it is

possible to find a solution to change it.

After that all the elements of the map have been identified, it is necessary to connect them, by

properly consider the relationships between them.

When we are going to connect the elements through the links, it is important to show which are

the relations between the elements. The elements can also be connected by logical operators

(and, or).

In the end, the phases that should be performed are the following:

1. Identify all the problems, the partial solutions, the questions to experts and the

constraints.

2. Identify the relationships between all the

elements

3. For each problem, look for further problems and

possible questions to experts.

4. For each problem apply the knowledge to identify

a solution by using problem solving strategies.

5. Return to step 3, until all the problems have been

solved.

6. Identify contradictions and solve them through a

classical ARIZ-like approach. 8

3 – Functional modelling

The purpose of this model is to define an ontology of design, which has the object of defining

which are the possible levels of the design process.

The Function of a technical system is its reason of existing, it’s the reason why we have created

the system. In order to fullfill its function, the system should have some specific elements. These

elements could be physical parts, but also software instructions etc…

The behaviour is defined as the sequential changing of states that describes how the system

delivers its function. It is important to notice that different behaviours can produce the same

function, and that different structures, which are the physical elements that have the duty of

deliver the function, can be characterized by the same behaviour. In principle we might have

different functions, that adopt the same behaviour (example: bottle and boiler, they have

different functions, but they adopt the same behaviour: contain a liquid).

The process through which we solve a problem, starts from a function, which represents our need.

The second thing that comes after, is thinking about the most suitable physical principle that can

be used in order to solve that problem, so, how it should behave.