40 inventive principles / #11
#11 Beforehand cushioning
What it says
- Make up for low reliability with emergency measures prepared in advance.
Examples
- Software
- Automatic failover to a standby replica; backups.
- Business
- A cash reserve for a bad quarter.
- Engineering
- A parachute with a reserve chute.
- Everyday life
- Keep a spare key with a neighbour.
Where the matrix suggests it
The classic contradiction matrix suggests Beforehand cushioning in 49 of its 1,248 filled cells. Most often for these conflicts:
- Improving Area of moving object worsens Stability of the object's composition
- Improving Speed worsens Reliability
- Improving Stress or pressure worsens Ease of operation
- Improving Strength worsens Reliability
- Improving Strength worsens Ease of manufacture
- Improving Duration of action of moving object worsens Reliability
- Improving Illumination intensity worsens Measurement accuracy
- Improving Loss of energy worsens Reliability