On invention and being a generalist+specialist ...

I discovered a book on invention (quite by accident) on a site called http://www.books24x7.com, which I have access to, by letting IBM Software Labs fund me right now. It is about an inventive method of problem solving called TRIZ.

Some of the conclusions drawn in the book align with my world view. One such conclusion:
You have a better chance of creating technically valuable inventions, if you have combed deeply through the problem and solution spaces of many, diverse fields.

'TRIZ', classifies problems into 5 categories on the basis of their technical invention value
as decided by their problem domain and the required solution domain -

• a.) a problem of a specific field in an industry solved by knowledge from that field itself.

-for example, requiring knowledge of compiler design to solve a problem in compiler construction

• b.) a problem of a specific field in an industry solved by applying knowledge of another field in the same industry -

-for example, requiring knowledge of compiler optimization to solve a problem in Operating System design.

• c.) a problem of a field solved by knowledge from another field

-for example, requiring knowledge of mechanical gear design to solve a problem of compiler construction

• d.) a problem of a field solved by advancement of science in a related field.

-for example, a problem of compiler construction, requiring an advancement of the state of the art of mathematical theory.

• e.) a problem of a field requiring advancement of science in an unrelated field

-for example, an improvement in the interface of an Instant Messaging system that requires an advancement in economic theory.