© 2013 Cogentus Consulting Ltd
Decision Processes in Practice
Getting to the right solution only much faster
Ian Seed
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Operational Research has lots of analytical methods for helping to choose between options
But how do you decide which options or scenarios should be analysed?
Typically, this is done by brainstorming: this generates all the options for subsequent analysis
Introduction
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Brainstorming is a Random Method
Very Inefficient
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Towards a more Systematic Method
Much more efficient
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Typical Process
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Improvement #1Framing
Understand the problem properly
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Framing5W’s + H
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Resources Materials, Energy,
Space, Time Stakeholders
Who influence’s the solution? Who is impacted by the solution?
Ideality The ideal solution
has everything we want and none of the things we don’t want.
FramingNine Windows and other techniques
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An Improved ApproachLook Elsewhere for Solutions
Triz (the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving) based on analysing hundreds of thousands of patents to look for generic solutions to generic problems.
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Inventive PrinciplesTriz Approach – 40 principles
There are 40 categories of proven solutions to solve a contradiction
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ContradictionsTechnical and Physical
Technical Contradictions are when you improve one parameter another gets worse. e.g. you want more strength but it doing so the product gets heavierPhysical Contradictions are when you want opposites e.g. hot AND cold
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Patterns of Technological Development8 different patterns
Patterns of technological development can be used to forecast what sort of solutions are likely to happen next
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Standard Solutions76 solutions
If you don’t have a contradiction there are 76 standard solutions that are broken down into five different categories (called classes)
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A Systematic Approach Significantly improves both quantity and
quality of options Speeds up the option generation stage
massively Ensures that subsequent analysis is working
on the right choice of options
There are challenges of course …..
Outcomes
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Psychological Inertia (you only know what you already know)
Triz takes time to learn After all, what can you really learn in half a day!
Addressing the Challenge Training
Learn process and practice techniques – with neutral and real-world examples
Use Software Triz can be neatly packaged with 1,000’s of examples
to help unlock already known solutions to the problem e.g. Promax
Challenges for Implementation
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SummaryUse a systematic approach: it is much better than Brainstorming!
Understand the problem fully. Only then will you have a chance to get the right solution.
Look for proven solutions elsewhere and adapt for your problem. More ideas means more chance of hitting the right one
Prioritise the ideas (options) in a robust manner so it will stand up to external scrutiny
Confirm the solution implemented is effective in solving the problem.
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For more information please contact Ian [email protected] software covers all the aspects discussed – plus more.
Questions?