ASIT Structured Creativity Method: Systematic Innovation

What is ASIT®?

"Think Inside the Box" - The method that transforms your constraints into innovation

ASIT is a structured creativity method offering two complementary intervention modes, usable separately or in cascade:

Far from brainstorming and its "predictable" side, ASIT enables, for example, the use of constraints in a situation to allow a team to innovate.

ASIT comprises tools that allow "manipulating" the problem in all directions and envisaging solutions or innovations that would not naturally come to mind (or would only come much later from a competitor?).

ASIT Vs Brainstorming Vs AI Comparison

Our LinkedIn article explains ASIT method's innovation capabilities and compares them with Brainstorming or AI promises:

"AI and brainstorming are often considered major innovation levers. However, analysis of our data (from hundreds of brainstorming sessions since 2002) and tests conducted with 12 AIs show that these approaches don't always deliver on their promises."

Article to read here.

ASIT in 6 Key Points

ASIT® (Advanced Systematic Inventive Thinking) is a structured creativity method enabling the solution of blocking problems or the design of new products (goods or services) or new processes.

 

User Testimonials

Video testimonial: Effectiveness of ASIT + Agile for R&D

At ArcelorMittal, we worked with SolidCreativity to transform our R&D. Thanks to ASIT and Agile methods, our teams generated innovative solutions in 3 months. This approach was extended to other teams, with concrete results for our clients.

ASIT in Example

Police security barriers are easily knocked over when there are many people pushing them.
When people are asked to solve this problem, they generally propose solutions that prevent demonstrators from reaching the barrier or they attempt to firmly fix the barrier to the ground (this is the classic causal approach and its lot of known solutions). This reflex doesn't give good results and they are not innovative (because everyone proposes them and we still have the problem). Let's see how ASIT helps solve it. The observed phenomenon can be summarised as:
"The more demonstrators near the barrier, the less stable it is."

So we must imagine a barrier that stabilises when there are people nearby… Do you have an idea?
It would suffice to have a barrier with a base on which demonstrators rest. The more there are, the more stable the barrier. This is convergence: we aim for innovative solutions because we know what they might look like.
This barrier exists in some countries and gives good results, but someone had to think of it. ASIT serves to find these sometimes obvious solutions that are nevertheless difficult to find.

Unfolding Example

If, during the preparation phase or the use of preliminary conditions, no solution was found, then we decide to unfold the ASIT method with its tools during a workshop. Here are the first 5 minutes:

1 – Preparation phase for the barrier problem:

2 – First ASIT question stimulating creativity, written with the first tool (unification) and the first object (people) to fulfil the desired action:

3 – Group reflection on this question and generation of ideas that we note:

When the group (or single person) has no more ideas for this question, then we move to the next question with the next object, then the next tool (different grammatical structure of the question) when we've finished the list of objects.

At the end of the session we have A CONVERGENT RANGE of innovative ideas.

We see in this unfolding that common ideas like "electrify the barrier", which systematically comes up in brainstorming sessions, has no chance of troubling the reflection which is guided by the method on new axes.

The example in video

Unlike traditional causal methods, such as brainstorming, which often run up against unknown or unmodifiable causes, ASIT offers a systematic approach to generate innovative solutions. This video illustrates how ASIT bypasses the limits of classic approaches by exploring all possible combinations, without requiring identification of the problem's root cause.

ASIT Functioning

ASIT is a structured creativity method with: a beginning, an unfolding and an end.

ASIT Method Principle

The ASIT method enables you to exploit the innovation mechanisms that constitute the DNA of all innovation (product, service, process). These innovation mechanisms naturally appear in the brain when having an innovative idea (before going to bed or in the shower for example), but the strength of the ASIT method is being able to mobilise them on demand, systematically.

Method Unfolding

After the preparation phase, ASIT stimulates individual or group reflection by displaying questions constructed with the different tools composing the method. Each tool has a specific role in conditioning the user and considering the problem.

Convergence

ASIT is a convergent creativity method, meaning it won't favour generating numerous unbridled ideas as in divergent techniques (cf. Brainstorming) but will systematise generating ideas meeting precise criteria, creating stimulating constraints. This is achieved through stimulating questions written with ASIT. Through their construction, questions generated by the ASIT method make the group reflect around a solution axis rather than on problem causes (we already have so many methods to do this: 5 Whys, Ishikawa, A3, root cause...).

One of the principles used by ASIT is that constraint favours creativity. TV hero MacGyver's creativity, inhabitants of disadvantaged countries' inventiveness or our creative capacities during problems are all examples: having few means is sometimes very stimulating to find innovative solutions. Convergence uses this principle and puts us in a position, not only to find solutions, but especially to find surprising or even revolutionary solutions.

The Five ASIT Creative Solving Tools

ASIT has 5 tools that are both 1) a response to cognitive biases and 2) the explanation of all innovations around us.

• Unification: Use existing objects differently - Optimises existing and uses constraints
• Multiplication: Add elements under constraint - Develop without diverging
• Division: Reorganise existing - Very suited to processes or complex devices
• Breaking Symmetry: Introducing variation enables very strong innovation
• Subtraction: Remove an element - Unexpected, elegant and breakthrough solutions

ASIT Uses

ASIT is usable to solve or improve:

ASIT users in the United Kingdom range from individuals, micro-enterprises, SMEs or large groups such as Michelin, Thales or EADS.
Read comments from ASIT users here (commercial site).

Applications

With an ASIT creativity session you will find a range of innovative solutions for, for example:

ASIT Solving and ASIT Conception

In innovation, everything seems to revolve around two challenges: solving creatively and designing innovatively*.

*This is close to the concepts/knowledge proposed by KCP, except for the ideation phase. With ASIT one can chronologically conceive then solve to make it feasible.

History

TRIZ

Initiated by Genrich Saulovitch Altshuller from the 1940s in Russia, TRIZ (Teorija Reshenija Izobretateliskih Zadatch = theory of inventive problem solving) is based on patent analysis and the identification of common points between innovations. TRIZ is a proven algorithmic approach for solving technical problems. TRIZ is enhanced with tools that require a certain expertise. TRIZ was introduced in France around 1998.

From TRIZ to ASIT

ASIT (Advanced Systematic Inventive Thinking) is a method invented by Dr Roni Horowitz to rationalise the application of TRIZ theory and increase its scope and effectiveness. ASIT enables problem solving (creative solving) and the design of new products and services (innovative conception), in all fields: technology, processes, organisation, services and business models. Introduced in France in 2004 by SolidCreativity, ASIT is today widely recognised for its effectiveness: exhaustiveness of solutions found, ability to unblock situations, use of constraints to mobilise a group, creativity rate of ideas. This recognition is based on solid scientific validation (doctoral thesis 1999, publications in Harvard Business Review, European Union, 14+ academic articles), adoption by large companies (Airbus, Michelin, ArcelorMittal) in varied sectors ranging from aeronautics to financial services, and prestigious engineering schools. Discover all scientific evidence and client testimonials →

Some dates

 
Questions and Answers about ASIT

Certain questions or remarks often recur about ASIT, consult the "Frequently Asked Questions" section on the ASIT creativity method.

More information

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