In his book Applied Imagination (1953), Alex Osborn
outlined a series of challenge questions about a product or service to
stimulate possible solutions, insights, perspectives or directions. The questions were grouped around a common
active verb – such as Substitute or Adapt – so it was named the
Osborn Verbal Checklist.
In the early 1990s, Bob Eberle, an author of books to
increase creativity in children, simplified the original nine groups of
questions into the clever anagram SCAMPER.
How To Use It
To begin the exercise, state the
problem that is preventing the objective or outcome from being achieved.
Next, select any of the seven areas, and post
questions to yourself or to a team (like a brainstorm) to challenge your
thinking, inspire a new direction, and shape new ideas.
Here’s the original seven
SCAMPER groups of questions.
S - Substitute What
else? Who else? Other people or roles? What other components, attributes,
elements? Other materials or
ingredients? Other approaches or
steps? Other places? Other tone of voice or positioning?
C - Combine Blending elements, assemblies or
services? Combine ideas or purposes?
Merge units? Forge a new ensemble
or assortment? A new alloy?
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