Every system or organisation has resources, some of which are fully used, some are partially used and some may not be used at all. There may be resources in the system which are not yet identified. In many cases, identification of unidentified resources solve a problem very nicely. In TRIZ, the resource is defined very broadly. A resource is everything that can be applied for solving a problem and improving the system without any big expense. Resource should be free or low cost and should be easily available.

The resources can be internal or external to the system or super-system. Resources can be substances or fields. TRIZ gives highest priority to use the resources already available inside the system. Let's see what kind of resources can be used in problem solving. The resources are classified into substances, energy, space, time, functions, information and combined resources.

• The substance resources are all substances used in the analyzed system and in an external environment.
• The energy resources are all kinds of energies and fields such as electrical, electromagnetic, thermal fields etc. These resources are already present in the improved system or in the external environment where the system resides.
• The time resources include the time before the production, time gaps during production and time running of the system etc.
• The functional resources are the functions of the system and the resources of the system. We may be knowing only a few functions of the system, but when we discover the other functions of the system those functions can work as great resources. For example, we know the function of a pencil is to write. When we know that the pencil lead can be used as a lubricant to remove the noise in the door hinges, the lead is a good electro conductant and can be used in the touch points of a remote control etc. the same pencil gives us more resources.
• The information resources are data on parameters of substance, fields, change of properties or of object. They are used used in solving problems on measuring, detection and separation.
• The combined resources are the combination of the above prime resources. Sometimes we get new resources by a specific combination of the above resources. Sometimes we change the property of the resource (making liquid to solid and vice versa) by using temperature or other resources and produce new resources.

• the wire itself
• insulation around the wire
• the current in the wire
• air around the wire, and so on.

  However TRIZ also includes the geometrical aspects of the wire such as diameter, circumference, surface are, surface roughness etc. to the resources. The air as a resource is not just air, but the oxyzen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and other gases in the air. If we think more, we can exlore a significant number of additional resources.

• First consider free of charge resource which are already there in the system
• resources outside the system but easily available and at very low cost
• resources available at a cost

• Formulate a list of resources
• prioritize them in their order, internal and free at the top, external and paid at the bottom.
• Define what kind of resources are needed for solving the problem
• Evaluate and estimate each of the existing resources
• Prioritize in the order of their effects/ usefulness to the given problem