Using SCAMPER to Innovate
Wikipedia defines innovation as the process that an individual or organization undertakes to conceptualize brand new products, processes, and ideas, or to approach existing products, processes, and ideas in new ways.
Over the last two years, innovation in the way that we do business has been forced upon us. And while it might be nice to take a break, this is a perfect time to harness that change mindset to create even greater innovation in your products, services and/ or processes.
One way to engage yourself and/or your team in the continued practice of innovation is through an out-of-the-box thinking tool, SCAMPER, that was developed in 1953 by Alex Osborne and enhanced in 1971 by Robert Eberle.
SCAMPER is the acronym for Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Purpose, Eliminate and Rearrange. To innovate and continuously improve a product, service, or process, simply take it through the tool and see what ideas and opportunities come to light.
SUBSTITUTE
Find a part of your concept, product, service, or process that you could replace with another to see whether it will result in improvements, such as efficiency gains.
Questions to ask:
• Can any part be replaced?
• Can the rules be changed?
• Can other ingredients or materials be used?
• Can the shape be changed?
• Can it be used differently?
Example: Automobile manufacturer using different composites for the frame to make vehicles lighter.
COMBINE
One idea might not work alone, but you could combine several ideas, processes, or products into one more efficient output.
Questions to ask:
• What ideas or parts can be combined?
• Can I merge this with something else?
• Can I include different materials?
• Can I combine different talents?
Example: Cell phone is integrated with a camera and an MP3 player.
ADAPT
Sometimes an idea that worked to solve one problem, could also be used to solve a different problem.
Questions to ask:
• What else is this “like” when used in a different context?
• What could it emulate?
• What can be incorporated?
• What other ideas or applications does it suggest?
Example: Netflix started out in 1999 as a DVD rental service, but unlike Blockbuster they quickly realized that the future belongs to online streaming and changed their business model.
MODIFY
Modify an aspect of your situation or problem to see whether it gives you a new insight or adds any value and identifies which part of your process or concept is the most significant.
Questions to ask:
• Can this be made larger?
• Can this be made smaller?
• Can something be added to it?
• Can something be eliminated from it?
• Can this be copied?
• Is it better to have many (items, parts, uses) instead of one?
• Is it better to have one, instead of many?
Example: An organization decides to expand the production of one product and focuses on that product.
PURPOSE
This is very similar to “Adapt”, it’s about putting an existing idea or concept to another use, i.e., using it differently than it was originally intended to.
Questions to ask:
• Why does this exist?
• Would it have more meaning/value if used for something else?
• Can this be applied to a new need?
• Can it be used by other people for different purposes?
Example: A q-tip is used for cleaning a computer keyboard.
ELIMINATE
Eliminate inefficient processes (‘waste’) with the goal of streamlining them.
Questions to ask:
• How can this be simplified?
• What features can be minimized or eliminated?
• Can it be made more compact?
• What can be removed without ruining function?
Example: Apple’s decided to not include an optical CD/DVD drive in their MacBook Air to make them thinner and lighter.
REVERSE
Reverse the orientation or direction of a process or product, do things the other way around, completely against its original purpose. Sometimes when you reverse the way a product is used, it will help you see things from a different perspective.
Questions to ask:
• Consider it backward?
• If it were assembled in a different way, would it be better, worse, or changed entirely?
• Would a different pattern be better?
• Can it be changed to meet a different need, better than it did the original?
Example: A company with a top-down approach for decision making adopts a bottom-up approach
