Description Long

SCAMPER is based on the assumption that every innovation builds on existing ideas. The method helps to overcome creative blocks and further develop existing products, processes or services. In the SCAMPER method, the following example questions serve as prompts to generate new ideas and possibilities:

• Substitute: What could you substitute? Who else? What else? Where else? Which other parts? Which other places?
• Combine: What could you combine this object with? Can you combine ideas, objects or functions? What else could it include or do?
• Adapt: What could you change? What does it remind you of? What could you copy?
• Modify, Magnify, Minify: What would change if it were bigger or smaller? What could you enlarge or reduce? How could you extend or reduce properties like colour, texture, sound, smell, etc.?
• Put to other uses: Could the object be used for something else? What features suggest alternative uses? What happens if you change the context or purpose?
• Eliminate: Can you leave something out? What would you remove? What could you do without?
• Reverse or Rearrange: What could you reverse? How would you rearrange it? What if it were upside down? Back to front? Inside out? What if places or roles were swapped?

Illustration

Preparation

• Familiarise yourself with the acronym and the guiding questions – print them out if necessary.
• Decide which product or service you would like to revise or improve.

Execution

1. Remind yourself of the task and write it on a flipchart.
2. Choose one letter from SCAMPER and write down what it stands for. Reflect on what new ideas or challenges this word might spark.
3. Note down your answers on the flipchart.
4. Use the questions from the description as inspiration.
5. Select additional letters if you feel stuck or have explored the current ideas fully. You may use some or all of the SCAMPER letters and their corresponding questions.
6. Go through the resulting list and make sure it aligns with the original task.

Hints from experience

• With this method, it is not necessary to use all the letters, and the order in which they are applied does not matter.

Tools list

• Flipchart or Whiteboard
• Paper and pencil

References

Center for Creative Learning. (2005). SCAMPER: Overview, Description, and Purpose.

Eberle, B. (1984). Help! In solving problems creatively at home and school. Carthage: Good Apple

Michalko, M. (2006). Thinker Toys. A handbook of creative-thinking techniques. Berkely, California: Ten Speed Press

http://mediaforeplay.blogspot.ch/2012/03/concept-video-and-scamper-technique.html