SCAMPER method
SCAMPER is a creativity technique for deliberately developing and sharpening ideas, services, or products. With seven typical questions, it prompts you to find new approaches, improvements, or surprising applications.
The seven SCAMPER questions
- Substitute: Which components can be exchanged? (e.g. replacing one material/process with another)
- Combine: Can the idea be connected with other functions/services? (combining, merging, using hybrid approaches)
- Adapt: Which elements can be adapted or used differently? (modification, new markets, new functions)
- Modify: How does the idea change if you enlarge, reduce, or redesign individual factors? (e.g. size, scope, application)
- Put to other use: Does the idea find a new use in another context? (repurposing, new target groups)
- Eliminate: What can be left out or simplified? (reduction to the essentials)
- Reverse: What happens if you reverse the order, the process, or the benefit? (change of perspective, testing the opposite)
Application in practice
- Go through all seven questions for a selected idea or trend and collect new variants or solutions together as a team. This often turns a basic idea into exciting further developments for a wide range of Innovation Fields.
