Business Studies Grade 10 | Problem-solving techniques | SCAMPER

SCAMPER

SCAMPER offers simple guidelines to help see things differently by encouraging people to question, challenge, and change parts of existing products, services, or ideas. It pushes creative thinking beyond routine solutions by suggesting specific ways to transform what already exists. Scamper stands for Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Magnify, Put to other use, Eliminate, and Rearrange. Each letter highlights a unique way to rethink an idea and spark new possibilities. This method is often used in product design, marketing, and business problem solving because it turns obstacles into opportunities. By applying SCAMPER, teams and individuals can move beyond what feels stuck and explore fresh, creative directions. Overall, SCAMPER makes innovation more structured, practical, and repeatable.

Application of SCAMPER

Substitute: Replace part of the problem with something new
The idea behind “Substitute” is to ask what parts of a product, service, or process could be swapped out for something else. This could mean changing materials, people, methods, or even timing. For example, a company might substitute plastic packaging with recyclable paper to solve environmental concerns. The power of substitution comes from opening the mind to options that might not seem obvious at first. It encourages questioning every element to see if something better can take its place. This step can also reveal cheaper, faster, or more effective alternatives. By testing substitutes, businesses often discover solutions that improve quality, cut costs, or add new value for customers.

Combine – mix: Arrange parts of a problem in a creative way to cancel out the problem
“Combine” means looking for ways to blend or merge different elements, ideas, or products to create something new or solve an issue. It can include mixing features from two separate products into one, or connecting processes to make them more efficient. For instance, combining a notebook with a calendar creates a planner that serves both purposes. Combining ideas can also help cancel out weaknesses or create something that meets multiple needs at once. This approach often sparks breakthrough innovations because it forces people to see relationships between things that might not seem related at first. It teaches teams to think beyond single solutions and find creative overlaps.

Adapt: Look at existing solutions and adapt them to solve the current problem
“Adapt” encourages people to study what already works elsewhere and see how it can be adjusted to fix the current issue. This could mean changing a product slightly to suit a new audience or using a method from another industry. For example, a company might adapt fast-food drive-through systems to speed up pharmacy pickups. Adaptation is powerful because it saves time by building on proven ideas instead of starting from scratch. It helps people recognise that innovation often comes from small, thoughtful changes rather than completely new inventions. By adapting existing solutions, teams can respond quickly to challenges while still bringing fresh thinking to the table.

Modify – Exaggerate the problem and see if that can be adjusted to solve the whole problem
“Modify” (often called Magnify or Minify) invites people to change the scale, shape, or features of a product or problem—sometimes by exaggerating it—to see what new ideas appear. For example, making a product larger could create new uses, while making it smaller could make it more portable and appealing. Exaggerating a challenge helps highlight parts of the problem that might otherwise stay hidden, leading to creative ways to adjust or fix it. This step shows that even small modifications can have a big impact. It also teaches teams to look at extreme versions of an idea, which can reveal solutions that moderate adjustments might miss. Overall, modification helps push creative thinking to places it wouldn’t go naturally.

Put to other use: Use part of the problem for something else
This step challenges people to think about whether an idea, product, or part of a process could be useful in a completely different context. For example, a company might find that leftover fabric scraps from clothing production can be turned into reusable shopping bags. This approach helps reduce waste while creating something valuable. “Put to other use” encourages thinking outside traditional applications and can open new markets or purposes for existing resources. It shows that value can come not only from creating new things but also from reimagining what’s already there.

Eliminate: Get rid of some parts of the problem
“Eliminate” is about identifying which parts of a product, service, or process may be unnecessary or even causing problems, then removing them. For instance, a software company might drop an underused feature to make their program faster and easier to use. By stripping away non-essential elements, products and ideas become simpler, cheaper, or clearer for customers. This step teaches teams that less can often be more, and it helps sharpen focus on what truly matters.

Rearrange: Push the idea around and rearrange so that it can be seen differently
“Rearrange” encourages looking at how changing the order, layout, or sequence of something might reveal new benefits or solve challenges. For example, rearranging store displays can change shopping patterns and boost sales. Rearranging can also apply to processes, steps, or even team roles. This step is about seeing the same idea from a fresh angle by moving parts around, often uncovering hidden opportunities or making existing systems work better. It helps teams question why things are arranged the way they are and explore creative alternatives.

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