Natural world contradiction matrix: How biological systems resolve trade-offs and compromises

The paper describes updates to the TRIZ Contradiction Matrix tool. The tool has been constructed following an extensive programme of research to uncover and codify the strategies used by biological systems to overcome conflicts, trade-offs and compromises. The paper is divided into three main sections. In the first section, we discuss the dynamics of contradiction emergence and resolution in nature. The aim in this section is to define a set of heuristics to help determine when and where nature is likely to experience and therefore have to resolve contradictions. The second section of the paper goes on to present a number of examples of conflict resolution in nature. The third and final section of the paper then moves on to examine the main similarities and differences between the strategies used by nature to resolve trade-offs and compromises and those used by human designers. The basis of this comparison is the Matrix 2003 tool developed from our parallel studies into trade-off resolution in human engineered technical systems.