Stan Kaplan's Introduction to TRIZ was one of the first books on the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving to appear in English. It quickly became known as the best TRIZ primer available in English- a distinction that it maintains even today. Dr.Kaplan's straightforward explanation of the basic elements of TRIZ theory, and his description of the tools that emerged from the first three decades of TRIZ development, are relevant for experienced engineers and novices alike. His analogy between the search for an inventive solution and the process of solving a quadratic equation is both simple and profound, and makes the TRIZ problem-solving approach comprehensible to anyone with a knowledge of basic algebra. Although TRIZ continues to evolve, its foundation remains intact- and is essential study for those pursuing a thorough understanding of this powerful methodology. Stan Kaplan is one of the first American scientists to become interested in the Russian theory of inventive thinking,TRIZ. In addition to its evident practical value,what attracted him to this theory was the thought that " just as the structure of logical thinking is the same whatever we're thinking about, might it also be true that the structure of creative thinking is the same, whether one is thinking about engineering inventions, business strategies, political and social organization,pure science, or even artistic expression? And, if so, could this structure be identified, abstracted, and taught to people of varied backgrounds and ages, including children?" This thought drove him to try to understand "what makes TRIZ work?" An Introduction to TRIZ is the result. We hope you enjoy it, profit from it, and come back for more.
