Turning Lemon into Lemonade
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ABC News Online provided an interesting example of this often used TRIZ principle. In a study on drug interaction, it was discovered that the use of Probenecid (normally a gout treating drug) would raise the level of Tamiflu (the current drug for the bird flu) in the blood system. Ordinarily, this would be cause for concern in terms of drug interaction.
However, Dr. Joseph Howton reasoned just the opposite and asked the question, why not use the two drugs together to reduce the quantity of Tamiflu needed? This would greatly increase the amount of Tamiflu needed to treat the Asian bird flu. In other words, use a potential negative effect to produce good. This happens to be Principle #22 of the TRIZ 40 Principles and we see it used to solve problems from many fields (and with our clients!) over and over again. This principle works in ANY area of science, technology, business, or personnel issues.
Consider:
- Using waste heat to generate power, or in another process operation
- Vaccinations
- Lowering of body temperature to slow metabolism
- Using a backfire to control a wildfire
- Use explosives to blow out an oil fire
- Using toxic chemicals to protect wood from rot
- Reverse business strategy thinking to "stay in business" rather than "expand the business"
- Reduce resource levels, requiring inventing a new process
- Match significant differences in personality on a team to produce different results
- Balancing pH and buffering solutions
- High pricing of service to indicate high quality or uniqueness
- Use customer complaints as opportunities for improvement
- Recycling of waste
- Increase frequency of noise to not harm humans but keep animals away
- Highly accelerated stress screening.
Think about every "negative" thing, material, personal characteristic, or process aspect that concerns you and ask, "how could I use it in a positive way?" If I increased its level, what positives might result? You'll be surprised at the ideas you'll come up with!