What is this technique about
The SCAMPER technique is a kind of brainstorming technique especially appropriate to come up with new ideas, as by using this technique, we can explore given problems or scenarios from seven different approaches, such as:
| Substitute | Consider here what parts or elements of the product/situation could be substituted and how this would affect the original situation. |
| Combine | What if we combined two or more aspects of the situation, product, or service? What advantages would we discover? |
| Adapt | Is there something from another context or situation that we can use for our case? With “adapt” we rely on a specific situation, functioning or form that is useful for our case. |
| Modify | It consists of modifying, changing, or extending an element. It can be directed at a portion or the entire element. |
| Put to another use | While it is true that the utility or purpose of a given product/service or situation is usually pre-defined, it is possible to reflect on a different scenario: is it possible to apply it to other uses? how would it work in another situation? |
| Eliminate | Consider what would happen if some of the elements were removed, minimized, or reduced. |
| Reverse | Aimed at de-constructing the product and re-thinking about it. Change the order, pattern, group, layout, structure, etc. |
The previous questions force the individual or group to think in a novel way, and using all seven perspectives will aid in the production of useful results, fostering our lateral and critical thinking processes, this technique helps us generate innovative solutions while encouraging us to think out of the box.
Therefore, SCAMPER also aims to generate new ideas by making us think about how you could improve those that already exist. Again, you do this by asking questions about the existing ideas or solutions.
“Genius, in truth, means little more than the faculty of perceiving in an unhabitual way.”
William James
