Creative Thinking Exercises: 002 SCAMPER

SCAMPER: Creative Thinking With The S.C.A.M.P.E.R technique

Want fresh ideas? Start SCAMPER-ing!

SCAMPER is an anacronym created by Bob Eberle to represent a set of idea-triggering questions. Some of these questions were originated by Alex Osborne -- yes, that's right, the advertising guy who invented Brainstorming. You can use SCAMPER as an excellent creative thinking exercise. Generate new ideas with it. Come up with groundbreaking new concepts. Revolutionize your business. Start scamper-ing!

SCAMPER -- here's the breakdown:

S = Substitute? (What can I get rid of, eliminate, or subtract?)

C = Combine? (How can I combine X with Y? What would happen if combine this idea with that idea?)

A = Adapt? (What if we change this?)

M = Modify? = Magnify? (

P = Put to other uses? (

E = Eliminate or minify? (

R = Reverse? = Rearrange? (

For a complete education in how to use SCAMPER, please refer to chapter 9 of Thinkertoys by Michael Michalko.

Sites with more information on S.C.A.M.P.E.R.

Scamper by Bob Eberle -- this is a book by the inventor of Bob Eberle.

Scamper technique training for lateral thinking -- color coded breakdown of the SCAMPER anacronym with notes on each SCAMPER question.

Scamper creativity, scamper checklist -- brief article with fictitious example of a manufacturer of nuts and bolts, looking for new products using this creative thinking process.

Scamper - another example this time about developing a new kind of pen.

Teaching Strategies SCAMPER - Flexible approach shows how technique is used to assess students' listening, speaking, reading, viewing and writing skills. And how students can S.C.A.M.P.E.R. to explore and demonstrate their contextual understanding and their knowledge of the structures and features of texts.

Child of SCAMPER-ing - One of Roger Alan Black's creativity challenges. A reversal of the normal marketing process. Are you up for it?

Mind-map of SCAMPER process: This is a good visual for you to print out.