SCAMPER

The SCAMPER method

Substitute Combine Add / adapt Modify / maximize / minimize Put to other use Eliminate / subtract Rearrange / reverse

Question # 1 What can we substitute?

Examples of questions to ask  What other values?  What other products / services?  What other competencies?  What other technologies?  What other methods?  What other times?  What other places?  What other forms / shapes / colours?  What other components / materials / parts?

Question # 2 What can we combine?

A closet combined with a mirror.

A table combined with a lamp

Questions to ask  What technologies can be combined?  What parts / materials can be combined?  What people can be connected?

Question # 3 What can we add / adapt?

Questions to ask  What ideas outside my field can I use / add?  What products / services can I learn from?  What people can I learn from?  What different contexts can I put my concept in?  Which extra function can be added?  What photo or sound can be added?  What color or form can be added?

Question # 4

What can we modify, maximize, and/or minimize?

Questions to ask  What can be made larger / taller / bigger?  What can be exaggerated / overstated?  What can be made smaller / lighter?  What can be duplicated / repeated?  What can be increased in frequency?

Question # 5 What can we put to other use?

Questions to ask  What else can the product / service be used for?  Who else can the product / service be used by?  How would a child use it? An elderly person?  How would people with diabilities use it?  What new ways are there to use it in its current form?  What other possible uses are there if it’s modified?  Can I use it in other industries?  Can I use it in other markets / places?

Question # 6 What can eliminate / subtract?

Questions to ask  What is unnecessary?  What would happen if it was made smaller?  What would happen if which rules are eliminated?  How can it be made more simple?  How can it me made smaller / lower / shorter / lighter?  What parts can be removed without changing its function?  In which different parts could it be split?

Question # 7 What can we rearrange / reverse?

Questions to ask  What can be moved?  What can be arranged in a different way?  What can be turned / twisted?  What can be reversed / turned up side down?

Further sources of inspiration http://www.adb.org/documents/information/knowledge-solutions/the-scamper-technique.pdf http://www.brainstorming.co.uk/tutorials/scampertutorial.html http://www.business-strategy-innovation.com/2010/04/scamper-your-way-to-increased.html http://e-articles.info/e/a/title/Creativity:-Using-the-SCAMPER-Process/ http://fosenabling.wetpaint.com/page/Scamper http://litemind.com/scamper/ http://www.managementexchange.com/blog/so-you-want-be-creative-genius https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCT_02.htm http://www.mycoted.com/SCAMPER http://www.slideshare.net/Tabby/in-4-scamper-toyota-iq http://thinkjarcollective.com/tools/thomas-edisons-creative-thinking-habits/ https://youtu.be/G8w0rJhztJ4