Solve it! - SCAMPER

A List of Prompts

GENERATE - Scamper Along with Kipling

SCAMPER

Check lists prompt you to be creative

We just love check lists. For idea generation they act as prompts building on previous ideas. Scamper is a check list of questions which stimulate idea generation. Originated by Alex Osborn, the father of brainstorming, it was later modified by Bob Eberle into this mnemonic.

S = substitute
C = combine
A = adapt
M = modify or magnify
P = put to other uses
E = eliminate or minify
R = reverse or rearrange

Imagine you want to reduce the amount of documentation that your company produces. You would need to know the purpose for each item, then you could use the list to find ways to reduce it.

5W's & H

The well know 5 W's and H list came from Rudyard Kiplings poem:.

I keep six honest serving men
They taught me all I knew:
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who

The six key words start a series of question prompts that let us examine a problem in detail. By doing this we often get a clue to its potential solution.

Agree your problem statement

Use the 6 questions as headers for 6 columns on a sheet of flipchart when the problem occurs.

Create another flipchart for when the problem does not occur.

Collect and examine the responses looking for potential solution clues

5W's and H can also be used to explore a challenge. For example, the challenge "In What ways might I improve my restaurant", is not specific and too high level. Asking the prompt questions delves deeper into what we are really looking for:

What does improve mean? - Increase number of customers
Why improve it - not profitable/ run down
Where does it need improvement - roof leaks. Bottom end market.
Where does it not need improvement? - excellent service
When do I need to improve it? - before loan called in - 6 months