Started searching around Wikipedia for information about problem solving approaches and techniques. Looking for some general information to possibly use to help structure the content of the linux troubleshooting guide I’ve been slowly working on.

One of the more interesting things I found was TRIZ, a problem solving approach oriented towards mechanical devices, based on study of a large number of Russian Patents. The idea basically being to determine the contradictions inherent in a problem, and then attempting to dissolve the contradictions. Take a look at this page to get a better idea.

The first two things that came to my two track mind were of course, what would be the equivalent “contradictions” and proposed dissolving strategies for software and/or creating music. The software case has a lot of obvious analogies to the machinery case. The music (and any “art”) for that matter is a bit more difficult. Need to think about that.

On a similar note, I found a web reference for the list of problem solving ideas I first saw in Conceptual Blockbusting. See the Flexibility in Strategies.

Anyone know of any similar ideas or approaches?