Brainstorming with SCAMPER Technique

“Manipulation is the brother of creativity.”   ~Michael Michalko

Looking for a new spin on an old idea?   Trying to figure out how to solve a problem by working smarter not harder?   Then the SCAMPER strategy may be the answer you are looking for to spark your own creativity.

HOW TO USE THE STRATEGY

First, consider what is your challenge... 

Then consider what do you want. You want to change it, modify it or update it. The target could be an object, an idea, a process, a design or just about anything that you want to update.

Then start using strategy……

SCAMPER (Invented by Bob Eberle)

Each of the letters in the acronym SCAMPER stands for a stage in the process. They include the following elements:

SCAMPER

S = Substitute

C = Combine

A = Adapt

M = Magnify / Modify

P = Put to Other Uses

E = Eliminate (or Minify)

R = Rearrange (or Reverse)

S = Substitute

Ask yourself :  Instead of ... I can ..

Think about replacing part of the problem, product or process with something else. By looking for replacements you can often come up with new ideas. You can change things, places, procedures, people, ideas, and even emotions.

Substitutions is a trial-and-error method where you can try things out, see if it works, then try something different.

Related questions: What kind of alternate material can I use? What part of the design could be substituted for something else?

Question yourself : Can I substitute parts of solution?

C = Combine

Ask Yourself: I can bring together ... and ... to ...

Think about combining two or more parts of your problem to create a different product or process or to enhance their synergy.  A great deal of creative thinking involves combining previously unrelated ideas, goods, or services to create something new.

Question yourself : Can I combine solution with other ones?

A = Adapt

Ask Yourself: I can adapt ... in this way ... to ...

Think about adapting an existing idea to solve your problem. The solution of your problem is probably out there already. Bear in mind that all new ideas or inventions are borrowed to some degree.

Question yourself : Can I adapt any existing solution to solve the problem?

M = Magnify / Modify

Ask yourself: I can change ... in this way ... to ...

Think about ways to magnify or exaggerate your idea. Magnifying your idea or parts of it may increase its perceived value or give you new insights about what components are most important.

Question yourself : What parts of solution can be enlarged or highlighted?

P = Put to other use

Ask yourself: I can re-use ... in this way ...  by...

Think of how you might be able to put your current idea to other uses, or think of what you could reuse from somewhere else in order to solve your own problem. Many times, an idea only becomes great when applied differently than first imagined.

Question yourself : In which other contexts can this solution be used differently?

E = Eliminate

Ask yourself: I can eliminate ... by...

Think of what might happen if you eliminated or minimized parts of your idea. Simplify, reduce or eliminate components. Through repeated trimming of ideas, objects, and processes, you can gradually narrow your challenge down to that part or function that is most important.

Question yourself : What could be reduced or simplified?

R = Rearrange (or Reverse)

Ask yourself : I can adjust…..by…

Think of what you would do if part of your problem, product or process worked in reverse or were done in a different order.

Question yourself : Can I rearrange/reverse the parts of solution?

Conclusion :

While brainstorming the ideas using this technique, just write them down without judging them; prioritization and elimination will come later in the process.

The SCAMPER technique helps you and your team increase their creativity and think outside the box to generate many ideas for improvement. Because this technique is an idea generator and provides solutions to many complex problems.