SCAMPER Approach for Effective Problem Solving

Introduction

The SCAMPER Technique refers to a team brainstorming technique. It is used to develop products or help in improving products or services. In order to turn ideas into innovation, we need to work on creative thinking and problem-solving. These are the essential parts of the learning process. One of the most successful methods to improve creative thinking is the SCAMPER technique.
In SCAMPER Technique, SCAMPER is an acronym;
S: Substitute, C: Combine, A: Adapt, M: Modify, P: Purpose, E: Eliminate, R: Rearrange/Reverse

SCAMPER Technique and its examples:

The SCAMPER technique provides seven different thinking approaches that help in finding innovative ideas and solutions. They are as follows:
1. Substitute: The substitute technique provides alternative solutions so that decision-makers can choose different solutions for a problem in order to reach the final action. Generally, things that can be replaced include the components, materials, people, etc. For example, While making windows for a children’s playhouse, to ensure the safety of the children, you can substitute glass with plastic.
2. Combine: The second one is the combined technique in which you tend to analyze the possibilities that emerge out of merging two or more ideas, different stages of the process, or products into one single more efficient output which is better than those ideas or stages if executed individually. We can combine things like features, devices, etc. For example, cell phones have different phone features with cameras combined together.
3. Adapt: The third technique of the SCAMPER technique is Adapt in which there is a brainstorming discussion. The aim of this discussion is to adjust or tweak ideas in order to create a much better output. We can add new elements or functions, for example, the new cars launched these days have built-in Wi-Fi.

4. Modify, Minify, or Magnify: The technique is Modify technique which refers to changing the process in such a way that unleashes and opens up more innovative capabilities or solves different problems. We can modify things like size, shape, color, or various other attributes. For example, companies reduced the size of sunglasses for babies or small children.
5. Put to another use: This technique is about putting things to another use. It suggests that by putting the current things or processes to another purpose we can solve other problems as well. It concerns how to use the existing material to solve problems or can you put a particular product to a different use, or use it in any other industry? For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, coffee filters were used as filters in masks for the faces of people.
6. Eliminate or Elaborate: The aim of this technique is to identify those parts of the process or the products which can be eliminated in order to improve the process or product and make it better than the earlier one. For example, by removing cigarette lighters from cars, the space can be created and utilized for charging devices.
7. Reverse: Finally, the last one is the Reverse/ Rearrange technique. This technique aims to explore the innovative potential by reversing (changing) the order of the process. You need to find what can be swapped or flipped for improving the process. For example, fast food restaurants reversed the 'Eat then Pay' model to the ‘Pay then Eat’ model.

Conclusion

The SCAMPER technique can help you immensely in improving your products and services. Nowadays, creative thinking and problem-solving play a very important role in the growth and development of businesses. These abilities can easily be learned, taught, and implemented which makes people much better in developing different products and services. This technique enables people and organizations turn ideas into innovations as it works upon the creative thinking and problem-solving abilities of the people.