Braintorming Tool: SCAMPER Technique

The SCAMPER technique is a creative thinking and brainstorming method used to develop new ideas or improve existing ones. SCAMPER stands for Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, and Reverse. Each of these prompts helps to explore different aspects of a product, service, or process to stimulate innovative thinking and problem-solving.

Elements of SCAMPER:

1. Substitute:
   • Think about substituting part of your product, service, or process with something else.
   • Questions to ask: What can be substituted? Who else? What other materials, processes, or ingredients could be used?
2. Combine:
   • Consider combining two or more parts of your product, service, or process to achieve a different outcome.
   • Questions to ask: What can be combined? How about a blend of features, materials, or services?
3. Adapt:
   • Adaptation involves altering a part of the product or process to make it better suited to a new purpose.
   • Questions to ask: What else is like this? What could I copy or emulate? What ideas from other industries can be applied?
4. Modify:
   • Modify involves changing the product or process in some way, such as in size, shape, or attributes.
   • Questions to ask: What can be modified or magnified? Can we change the meaning, color, motion, sound, smell, form, or shape?
5. Put to another use:
   • Think about how you can put your current product or process to another use.
   • Questions to ask: What other uses can this product or service have? What else can it be used for? Can this be used in another industry?
6. Eliminate:
   • Consider what elements of the product, service, or process can be eliminated to simplify it or reduce costs.
   • Questions to ask: What can be removed or simplified? What’s non-essential or redundant?
7. Reverse:
   • Look at your product, service, or process from a different perspective or reverse the order of its parts.
   • Questions to ask: What if we reverse the process or order? What if we did the exact opposite of what we’re doing now?

Example of Using SCAMPER:

Suppose you are trying to improve a coffee cup.

1. Substitute:
   • Replace the material of the cup with something more eco-friendly, like bamboo or biodegradable plastic.
2. Combine:
   • Combine the coffee cup with a built-in stirrer or combine the lid with a filter for on-the-go brewing.
3. Adapt:
   • Adapt the cup for cold beverages by adding insulation to keep drinks cold for longer periods.
4. Modify:
   • Modify the shape to make it more ergonomic or add a feature like a heat indicator that changes color based on the beverage’s temperature.
5. Put to another use:
   • Use the cup as a storage container or a plant pot once it’s no longer suitable for drinking.
6. Eliminate:
   • Eliminate the need for a separate sleeve by incorporating insulation directly into the cup design.
7. Reverse:
   • Create a cup that collapses for easy transport when not in use or a cup that dispenses coffee from the bottom to reduce spills.

Benefits of SCAMPER:

• Encourages creative and out-of-the-box thinking.
• Helps in identifying new opportunities and innovations.
• Can be applied to products, services, processes, and strategies.
• Simple and easy to use, making it accessible for individuals and teams.

By systematically applying each SCAMPER prompt, you can generate a variety of ideas and solutions, which can lead to significant improvements and innovations in your projects or business.