ARIZ

ARIZ – Algorithm of Inventive Problem Solving – is a method that contains instructions for the transition from "what is" to "what should be" and that is represented in a scheme with an algorithmic form and character.

The first ARIZ appeared in 1956.

In that year, Genrikh Altshuller and Rafail Shapiro published a scheme with 3 phases that became the first "algorithm of inventing" – or ARIZ-1956 – based on models of contradictions and transformations. This then became the core, the center of the growth of what later became TRIZ.

The most important differences between this meta-navigator of thinking and other similar schemes and theories are its instrumentality and constructivity.

Instrumentality means that the three main phases of ARIZ-1956 – analytical, operative and synthetic – were already equipped with the first models and recommendations for the practical change (transformation) of any given object. This ensured the (goal and result oriented) constructivity of ARIZ-1956.

By 1961 G. Altshuller had already investigated ca. 10000 inventions from 43 types of patents.

The idea that it is possible to construct procedures for inventing was corroborated by the following discoveries:

The author of what later became TRIZ wrote *:

TRIZ developed from ARIZ-1956 towards a powerful key idea – the presentation and contrast of certain types of contradictions (and further of certain types of conflicts) that correspond to certain groups of sufficient and effective models of transformation. This idea was not yet formulated in ARIZ-1956 but it was a logical consequence that gives the models of TRIZ an essential similarity to models from physics, mathematics and generally speaking from all sciences.

A simplified version of ARIZ is necessary for the mass usage of TRIZ – for example, specialized according to the educational level of students and users or even to the language of the area of application.

In addition it is practically impossible for beginners to start with ARIZ in the version ARIZ-1985, for example, because the first step is the initial command of the instrumental (fundamental) models of TRIZ. G. Altshuller said furthermore, that ARIZ is designed for the master level.

This is why our previous experience with TRIZ training has shown that it is necessary to first learn the fundamental models on the basis of simpler schemes such as the meta-algorithm of inventing and other schemes that are presented in modern TRIZ.

If we expect the mass application and spread of TRIZ and work towards this stage of affairs, then we can project that TRIZ will find usage in virtually every other area in addition to technical fields – there seems to be no limit.

Despite an entire series of variations of ARIZ and meta-algorithms, every ARIZ regardless of how advanced remains an unachievable ideal to which we can always get closer, but which will always contain a component that cannot be expressed in algorithms, that cannot be eliminated, that is just as important as all other components that can only be expressed with beauty and harmony, intuition and ... luck.

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