Spheroidality / Curvature

{
  "id": "TRIZ-14",
  "title": "Spheroidality / Curvature",
  "intent": "Increase adaptability and robustness by replacing rigid, linear structures with flexible, curved, or adaptive ones.",
  "triz_principle": {
    "number": 14,
    "name": "Spheroidality / Curvature",
    "definition": "Replace linear parts or processes with curved, flexible, or adaptive forms."
  },
  "problem_understanding": {
    "core_contradiction": "We want predictable control, but rigid linear processes break under real-world variability.",
    "why_this_hurts": "Linear plans assume stable inputs; when reality deviates, the system either stalls or collapses.",
    "typical_signals": [
      "strict sequential processes",
      "hard deadlines with no adaptation",
      "binary states (on/off, pass/fail) everywhere",
      "frequent re-planning under pressure"
    ]
  },
  "solution_logic": {
    "core_idea": "Introduce flexibility, gradation, and feedback instead of rigid straight-line execution.",
    "key_rule": "Allow controlled bending instead of forcing straight paths.",
    "how_it_resolves_the_contradiction": "The system adapts continuously, absorbing variability without breaking or stopping."
  },
  "application_patterns": {
    "consulting": [
      "rolling-wave planning instead of fixed long-term plans",
      "graduated decision gates instead of binary approvals",
      "adaptive KPIs that adjust to context"
    ],
    "software_engineering": [
      "progressive validation instead of all-or-nothing checks",
      "backoff strategies instead of fixed retry intervals",
      "graceful degradation instead of hard stops"
    ],
    "architecture": [
      "elastic scaling instead of fixed capacity",
      "feedback loops for self-tuning systems",
      "soft constraints with monitoring instead of hard limits"
    ],
    "enterprise_sap": [
      "tolerance ranges in validation rules",
      "phased activation of business rules",
      "adaptive workflows based on risk or volume"
    ]
  },
  "anti_patterns": [
    "adding flexibility without observability",
    "unclear rules leading to unpredictability",
    "over-complicating simple linear flows"
  ],
  "usage_guidance": {
    "use_when": [
      "inputs are variable and hard to predict",
      "rigid rules cause frequent exceptions",
      "systems need to operate under fluctuating load"
    ],
    "do_not_use_when": [
      "strict determinism is required",
      "regulatory or safety rules forbid flexibility"
    ]
  },
  "diagnostic_questions": [
    "Where do rigid rules break under real conditions?",
    "Which processes could benefit from gradual adaptation?",
    "How can feedback be used to adjust behavior?"
  ],
  "example": {
    "before": "A fixed approval threshold blocks all transactions above a static limit.",
    "after": "Dynamic thresholds adjust based on risk, volume, and historical behavior."
  },
  "meta": {
    "schema": "dkharlanau.dataset.byte",
    "schema_version": "1.1",
    "dataset": "TRIZ-bytes",
    "source_project": "cv-ai",
    "source_path": "TRIZ-bytes/TRIZ-14.json",
    "generated_at_utc": "2026-02-03T14:33:32+00:00",
    "creator": {
      "name": "Dzmitryi Kharlanau",
      "role": "SAP Lead",
      "website": "https://dkharlanau.github.io",
      "linkedin": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/dkharlanau"
    },
    "attribution": {
      "attribution_required": true,
      "preferred_citation": "Dzmitryi Kharlanau (SAP Lead). Dataset bytes: https://dkharlanau.github.io"
    },
    "license": {
      "name": "",
      "spdx": "",
      "url": ""
    },
    "links": {
      "website": "https://dkharlanau.github.io",
      "linkedin": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/dkharlanau"
    },
    "contact": {
      "preferred": "linkedin",
      "linkedin": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/dkharlanau"
    },
    "canonical_url": "https://dkharlanau.github.io/datasets/TRIZ-bytes/TRIZ-14.json",
    "created_at_utc": "2026-02-03T14:33:32+00:00",
    "updated_at_utc": "2026-02-03T15:29:02+00:00",
    "provenance": {
      "source_type": "chat_export_extraction",
      "note": "Extracted and curated by Dzmitryi Kharlanau; enriched for attribution and crawler indexing."
    },
    "entity_type": "triz_byte",
    "entity_subtype": "",
    "summary": "Increase adaptability and robustness by replacing rigid, linear structures with flexible, curved, or adaptive ones."
  }
}