How can you use the SCAMPER method to innovate?

1 What is SCAMPER?

SCAMPER is an acronym that stands for seven ways to modify or transform something: Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, and Reverse. By asking yourself a series of questions based on these words, you can explore different possibilities and generate new ideas. You can use SCAMPER to innovate in any field or context, whether you want to design a new product, improve a service, or find a better solution.

2 How to use SCAMPER?

To use SCAMPER, you need to start with an existing idea, product, or service that you want to innovate. Then, apply each of the seven words and ask yourself questions that challenge your assumptions and stimulate your imagination. For instance, if innovating a bicycle, ask yourself what can be substituted, combined, adapted, modified, put to another use, eliminated or reversed in the bicycle. Can you use a different material or add another function? Can you copy an idea from another industry or make it bigger? Can you serve a different purpose or remove any part? Can you change the order or direction? These questions will help you find new and creative solutions.

4 When to use SCAMPER?

You can use SCAMPER whenever you want to innovate something, whether it is a product, a service, a process, or a concept. You can use it alone or with a team, as a brainstorming tool or as a structured framework. You can use it at any stage of your innovation process, from ideation to implementation. You can also use it as a complementary technique to other methods, such as SWOT analysis, design thinking, or TRIZ.

5 How to improve SCAMPER?

SCAMPER is a flexible and adaptable method that you can customize and improve according to your needs and preferences. To get the most out of it, research the idea, product, or service beforehand to better understand its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Additionally, using a visual aid like a sketch or diagram can help you see it more clearly and creatively. Generate ideas by asking a variety of questions for each word of SCAMPER; there are many examples online or you can create your own. Record and organize your ideas as you use SCAMPER - this can be done with a notebook, a spreadsheet, a mind map, or a software tool. Finally, select and test the best ideas after using SCAMPER using criteria such as feasibility, desirability, and viability to validate and implement them successfully.

6 How to learn SCAMPER?

SCAMPER is an easy and fun method to learn and practice. You can start by applying it to simple and familiar objects, such as a pen, a chair, or a phone. Then, you can move on to more complex and challenging problems, such as a social issue, a business opportunity, or a personal goal. You can also learn from other examples of innovation that used SCAMPER, such as the Post-it note, the Dyson vacuum cleaner, or the Airbnb platform. The more you use SCAMPER, the more you will develop your innovation skills and mindset.