10. Out of the Box Thinking Technique for CXOs

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CXOs need to think out of the box. But how to do that consistently when you are immersed in mundane daily routine?

There needs to be a process, a technique for the same.

Here is that technique!

Use this extremely simple but effective 'brainstorming technique' called SCAMPER and think 'out of the box' at your will.

What is ‘SCAMPER’?:

It is?a creative brainstorming technique, originated by?Alex Osborn, but put into ‘SCAMPER’ form by?Bob Eberle.

SCAMPER is a tool where you ask questions about your product or service by asking questions using each of the seven letters : S C A M P E R.

• S for Substitute. What is the Substitute for this product? Any Different ingredients can used? Any other material can be used? Some Other processes? At some other place? Any other approach? Any other person?
• C for Combine. Can we Combine units, purposes, appeals or ideas? Can we have a blend, alloy, or an ensemble?
• A for Adapt. Is there anything else like this? What does this tell you? Is the past comparable?
• M for Modify, Magnify or Minify : Give it a new angle? Alter the colour, sound, odour, meaning, motion, and shape. Can we Magnify? Can anything be added such as time, frequency, height, length, strength? Can it be duplicated, multiplied or exaggerated? Minify? Can anything be taken away? Made smaller? Lowered? Shortened? Lightened? Omitted? Broken up? Rearrange? Swap components? Alter the pattern, sequence or layout? Change the pace or schedule? Transpose cause and effect?
• P for Put to other uses. Can we only use it as it is? What if that usage is modified?
• E for Eliminate. Can we completely eliminate something?
• R for Reverse. Can we reverse something? Use Opposites? Make it Backwards? Reverse roles? Change shoes? Turn tables?

How it will help CXOs? :

When you find it?difficult to come up with new ideas to improve anything, a product or service, SCAMPER will help you tremendously.?

The beauty of this tool is that it can be applied to wide variety of situations be it product, service, people and many others.

How to use SCAMPER :

Let's understand it directly from real life example.

We have applied SCAMPER Technique to Car as a product in the below info-graphics.

It is very interesting to see how the product car has evolved into multiple products which lead to creation of the whole industry in itself.

Similarly, you can apply SCAMPER to any services, people, situations. The only limit is your imagination....

I hope this is helpful.

Please do share your experiences/examples in comments to make this discussion richer and let everyone learn more from the same.

Let's connect in the next edition with few more insights to manage and scale up your business systematically.

Regards,

Chanakya Joshi

Founder & CEO,

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