TRIZ stands for "Theory of Inventive Problem Solving" and is a systematic approach for understanding and solving any problem, boosting brain power and creativity, and ensuring innovation. It was developed by Genrich Altshuller and his colleagues in the Soviet Union between 1946 and 1985. TRIZ is based on the idea that creativity involves breaking old patterns and forging new ones, and it provides a system for thinking outside the box.

TRIZ involves a technique for problem-solving created by observing the commonalities in solutions discovered in the past. It provides data on similar past projects that can help teams find a new path forward. TRIZ works best in situations where other Six Sigma tools have not accomplished the task. It provides another way to find solutions during the improve phase of the Six Sigma technique DMAIC (define, measure, analyze, improve, control) or the design phase of DMADV (define, measure, analyze, design, verify) .

TRIZ is not a theory but a big toolkit consisting of many simple tools that are easy to learn and immediately apply to problems. It helps us tackle any problem or challenge even when we face difficult, intractable, or apparently impossible situations. TRIZ helps us keep detail in its place, to see the big picture and avoid getting tripped up with irrelevance, waylaid by trivial issues or seduced by premature solutions. It works alongside and supports other toolkits and is particularly powerful for getting teams to work together to understand problems effectively, collectively generate ideas, and innovate.

TRIZ has been used successfully by many companies, including Rolls-Royce, Ford, Daimler-Chrysler, Johnson & Johnson, Boeing, NASA, Hewlett-Packard, Motorola, General Electric, Xerox, IBM, LG, Samsung, Intel, Procter & Gamble, Expedia, and Kodak. It has resulted in the birth of hundreds of thousands of inventions by being the base of extensive research across different fields.