SCAMPER Questions

Let's look at some of the questions you could ask for each letter of the mnemonic:

 Substitute

  • What materials or resources can you substitute or swap to improve the product?

  • What other product or process could you use?

  • What rules could you substitute?

  • Can you use this product somewhere else, or as a substitute for something else?

  • What will happen if you change your feelings or attitude toward this product?

Combine

  • What would happen if you combine this product with another, to create something new?

  • What if you combine purposes or objectives?

  • What could you combine to maximise the uses of this product?

  • How could you combine talent and resources to create a new approach to this product?

 Adapt 

  • How could you adapt or readjust this product to serve another purpose or use?

  • What else is the product like?

  • Who or what could you emulate to adapt this product?

  • What else is like your product?

  • What other context could you put your product into?

  • What other products or ideas could you use for inspiration?

Modify 

  • How could you change the shape, look, or feel of your product?

  • What could you add to modify this product?

  • What could you emphasise or highlight to create more value?

  • What element of this product could you strengthen to create something new?

Put to Another Use

  • Can you use this product somewhere else, perhaps in another industry?

  • Who else could use this product?

  • How would this product behave differently in another setting?

  • Could you recycle the waste from this product to make something new?

Eliminate 

  • How could you streamline or simplify this product?

  • What features, parts, or rules could you eliminate?

  • What could you understate or tone down?

  • How could you make it smaller, faster, lighter, or more fun?

  • What would happen if you took away part of this product? What would you have in its place? 

Reverse 

  • What would happen if you reversed this process or sequenced things differently?

  • What if you try to do the exact opposite of what you're trying to do now?

  • What components could you substitute to change the order of this product?

  • What roles could you reverse or swap?

  • How could you reorganise this product?