Developed by Bob Eberle (SCAMPER: Games for Imagination Development, 1971) from the idea-spurring checklist of Alex F. Osborn (Applied Imagination, 1953).
Runs an existing product, process, or idea through seven prompts (substitute, combine, adapt, modify, put to other uses, eliminate, and reverse) to produce many variants.
When to reach for it
Brainstorming that has stalled, when a fast, structured way is needed to produce many options from something that already exists.
How it runs
- Pick the product, process, or idea to work on.
- Run each of the seven prompts in turn.
- Write five to ten variants per prompt without judging them.
- Judge the full list for feasibility and impact.
- Cluster related variants and pick three to five to test.
Where it sits in SOLVE eX
Go to the source
- SCAMPER: Games for Imagination Development, 1971
- Applied Imagination, 1953