So where did this come from, and why haven’t you heard more about it?

There are several reasons why most people struggle to solve complex problems. Understanding chaos and complexity, and having better problem-solving tools, are what businesses need most.

In the 1990s, approximately 50 of the largest corporations met with representatives from various universities to share the skills they would like to see taught at the universities, to prepare individuals to be productive upon hire.

Every university refused, except MIT, which was run by local corporations that directed what students needed to be taught to help them grow and prosper. Not surprisingly, MIT has been ranked the number-one innovation university in the US for 30 years.  

Voluntary Hospitals of America taught thousands of healthcare staff chaos and complexity theories at their conferences. 

Some universities are beginning to incorporate chaos and complexity theories into their graduate programs.  

Advanced Innovation

Tools and Methods

In 1991, the heads of 22 major corporations asked Bob King for the most effective tools for addressing wicked problems.

First came the creativity tools (see the next column).

Then, Ideation TRIZ tools were built on the analysis of two million of the most inventive patents. The tools were helpful but cumbersome; however, they became more straightforward with the introduction of the ESAM® software.

Artificial Intelligence was integrated into the product to help users understand how to apply the principles and find current examples.

Anticipatory Failure Determination (AFD) has become a helpful approach to addressing potential problems before they occur.

The Seven Creativity Tools

The Seven Creativity Tools

Helmut Schlicksupp and Bob King, working with 22 US Fortune 50 companies, assembled seven of the most powerful innovation tools.

 1. Heuristic Redefinition helps define the problem and maps likely directions of success.

2. Classic Brainstorming helps to identify a range of ideas.

3. Brainwriting 6-3-5 enables participants to build more effectively on others’ ideas as they think through possible solutions.

4. Imaginary Brainstorming helps generate ideas that vary from common ideas.

5. Word and Picture Association, as well as analogies, help generate additional ideas.

6. TILMAG uses related categories to stimulate potentially improved ideas.

7. Morphological Box uses parameters and options to create and map unique solutions to a problem.