In Session: Learning the SCAMPER Technique

Community MeetUp on exploring an approach that engages participants in developing better solutions.

If you are a trainer, facilitator or coach looking for a new technique to modify your training or train people in problem solving, read on :)

We had the pleasure to speak with Rhea Punjabi , an LnD professional focussed on people being effective in communication! Rhea has partnered with giants like Tata, Reliance, Future, NMIMS, UpGrad and many more, elevating employee performance.

She talked us through the implementation and application of this simple framework, as an activity for participants as well as a tool to develop our training modules.

What is SCAMPER?

A simple and flexible framework for creative thinking, used by a wide variety of problem-solvers.

What makes the model effective is that it enables people to look at a problem / product through different angles. Let's see what SCAMPER stands for -

Where things got interesting - Application :)

In breakout rooms, our community members set out to apply SCAMPER on everyday life products - ??lipstick, ? coffee cups, water bottles and earrings.

and here is what happened to the lipstick -

• Substitute - chemicals for organic products. plastic casing for metal casing.
• Combine - add an eraser at the back (like pencils) for correction.
• Adapt - surprise, read on!
• Modify - Lipstick to lip gloss, liquid matte lip color, lip tint etc.
• Put to another use - blush, of course!
• Eliminate - chemicals
• Reverse - ??

Scamper - Adapt

Adaptation asks us to consider how elements of one product or process can be adjusted or repurposed. Our faces lit up when we remembered something we used 10 years ago - stackable crayon pens!

Couldn't we make lipsticks like that?

?? Disclaimer: After a quick google search, we realised the product already exists, but knowing this did not take away from the joy we felt at discovering a potential new product and business idea!

A rudimentary 10 mins exercise led to unlocking of alternative ways of thinking about the same common everyday item - and that's the point of the activity!

SCAMPER - Reverse Challenge

This principle suggests looking at the opposite of what you currently do, or rearranging components to see if a better solution emerges. Can you think of how to reverse-use a lipstick? Drop us a comment!

How to Use SCAMPER in Training:

1. Use it to train participants in topics like problem solving, creativity, and alternative ways of thinking.
2. It can be incorporated in activities around brainstorming to make the activity more structured inside the framework.
3. It can be used to design sessions and make small tweaks to our content.

Reading Material to Apply SCAMPER:

1. https://bitesizelearning.co.uk/resources/scamper-model-creativity - what questions you can ask to lead the participants through each of the components of SCAMPER.
2. https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/article/learn-how-to-use-the-best-ideation-methods-scamper - step by step deep dive :)

And while we are disappointed we can't patent the stackable lipstick, we are delighted that the session led to fruitful discussions and ideas for all we trainings we take up next!

Thank you Rhea Punjabi for such an insightful session!