Chapter 9: Creative Problem Solving | Mastering Problem Solving Toolkit
SCAMPER is a checklist of thinking prompts that force you to look at a problem from 7 different angles. Use it when brainstorming is stalled or when you need fresh ideas beyond the obvious.
What component, material, step, person, or technology could be substituted? What if we used a different supplier, process, or tool?
What steps, features, or functions could be combined? Can two problems be solved together? Can two processes be merged?
What solution from a different industry or context could be adapted here? What has worked in similar situations elsewhere?
What if it were bigger, smaller, faster, slower, more frequent, or less frequent? What if we exaggerated one feature?
Could this process, resource, or tool be used in a different way or applied to a different problem? What other markets or contexts could benefit?
What steps, features, or requirements could be removed without losing value? What would happen if this step didn't exist?
What if the sequence of steps were reversed? What if the customer came to us instead? What if we did Step 5 before Step 1?
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