About the Tool

SCAMPER is a creative thinking and problem-solving technique to enhance ideas, products, processes, or services. It looks at different aspects of a problem using the seven thinking approaches:

  • Substitute: What elements can be replaced or substituted to improve the idea or product?
  • Combine: How can you combine this idea with other materials or resources to produce something new?
  • Adapt: How could you adapt or adjust your organization’s input, process, or output (product or service) to serve another purpose or use?
  • Modify (or Magnify, Minimize): What could you add to modify your organization’s input, process, or output (product or service)?
  • Purpose: How can you use this idea differently or for another purpose?
  • Eliminate: What elements can be removed to simplify or streamline the idea?
  • Reverse (or Rearrange): What can you reverse or rearrange to generate a new perspective?

SCAMPER is often used in brainstorming sessions to stimulate creative thinking and explore alternative solutions. It is a versatile tool that analyzes all possible angles and encourages thinking outside the box.

Purpose: Ideation

Estimated Time Needed: 30 minutes

Target Participants or Users: Change Managers, Program Managers, Operations Managers, Planning Officers, Process Planners, Policymakers, Service Designers

How to Use the Tool

Steps:

  1. Let the participants select an existing input, process, or output (product or service) that they want to improve, one that they are currently having problems with, or one that they think could be a good starting point for future development.
  2. Ask questions about the input, process, or output (product or service) they have identified, using the mnemonic SCAMPER to guide them. Brainstorm as many questions and answers as they can.

Sample SCAMPER Template


Sample SCAMPER Activity