Solve problems with SCAMPER Method

I had described the technique of attribute method for problem solving in one of my earlier post. One of the problem faced in many problems is that how will you modify an idea. For example, how can you design a mobile phone for use of a 4-year old kid? You can simply sit over the matter and think about various combinations and aspects to solve it. But again, will you be able to generate sufficient number of concepts that cover all aspects? That too often under the pressure of limited time.

When I was doing my masters, I came across an amazing technique that removes the mental block and allows us to think in many possible directions. In his book, “Thinkertoys: A Handbook Of Creative-Thinking Techniques”, the author Michael Michalko, described a simple yet powerful technique called “SCAMPER”. Here I have attempted to explain this technique, with slight modifications.

What is SCAMPER?

SCAMPER is a mnemonic for;

    S – Substitute (“how can I substitute foam with wood to make my product eco-friendly?”)

    C – Combine (“how can I combine these two parts to simplify the assembly?”)

    A – Adapt (“how can I adapt the mechanism of flying insects wings to make my robot fly?”)

    M – Modify (“can I modify the paint of my product to white color, instead of black to prevent it from heating in the sun light?”)

    P - Put to Other Uses (“can I use the handle of frying pan to open handle of furnace?”)

 

    E - Eliminate (“can I eliminate some material from my product by making cutouts to reduce weight?”)

 

    R – Rearrange (“how can I rearrange the layout of egg packing carton so that more eggs will fit in the same space?”)

 

How to use SCAMPER?

1. Frame the problem: you have to identify the problem you wish to solve
2. Try to generate as many ideas as possible to solve the problem without using any technique. This will free your mind of any ideas and relax you.
3. Identify the core elements of the problem: identify the objects, concepts, resources, etc. that comprise of the problem
4. Apply the each of the seven SCAMPER techniques serially and come up with at least one solution with each

Where to use SCAMPER

• You can use SCAMPER when you have run out of ways to generate new ideas
• SCAMPER can address a problem from many different aspects
• With SCAMPER, you address one aspect of the problem at a time, so it simplifies the approach
• SCAMPER is better suited when an existing product is to be improved
• SCAMPER provides a very good base for documentation of the idea generation flow
• SCAMPER is one step method that applies solution directly to problem
• SCAMPER helps you generate 7 solutions in one go
• It assists in other creativity tools like brainstorming
• It can kick start a stuck brainstorming session
• It can be used in teams as well as individually

Where to be careful

• It relies on identifying the resources correctly. Hence it is prone to errors if you fail at this step
• It can constraint you to only seven ways of thinking, hence other ways maybe overlooked
• It is a structured approach and can become boring after a while
• SCAMPER itself does not give ‘how’ to execute the tool. For example, it does not give how to substitute

Fun exercises to challenge you

• Use SCAMPER to generate concepts for eco-friendly phone
• Using your own skills try to figure out what is the most profitable business you can come up with
• Think about an innovative name for your laptop
• What all ways can you think to reduce the accidents on the roads using scamper?
• Think of the innovative ways to declutter your desk (hint: you can substitute the junk objects, combine them, etc)
• How can you make your page more user friendly for people new to internet

Bonus download : downloadable summery of SCAMPER here. Take a printout to remind you of the toolkit