Further development through change
Once you have distilled the best ideas, it is time to give them the final touch. After all, it is rare for the first version of an idea to already be a marketable concept. It is important to work out the success factors and to refine the added value and the USP. That means: question, revise, discard, improve, readjust, question again and then conduct another review.
All this requires patience – but your work and consistency will be worthwhile. The SCAMPER method helps you to add the final touch to the selected ideas so that they can be successfully implemented on the market.
Most of my ideas first belonged to other people who
didn’t bother to develop them.
Thomas Edison
Approach using the SCAMPER method
The SCAMPER method offers you seven techniques for refining and substantiating your ideas.
Substitute
What happens if you replace parts of the idea?
Substitute: components, materials, people
Combine
What happens if parts of the idea are combined even further?
Combine: Mix up with other additional features, cross with new services
Adapt
What happens if parts of the idea get a new function?
Adapt: Change functions, use part of a different element or unit
Modify
Can individual factors vary and how does this change the idea?
Modify: Increase or decrease the size, scale or change the design or attributes
Put to another use
What happens if elements of the idea are given a different use?
Put to another use: Find a new context for use or reformulate the area of
application.
Eliminate
Can any elements of the idea be removed?
Eliminate: Reduce elements and components to their core function
Reverse
What happens if you turn the idea or the elements around?
Reverse: Pull the inside out, turn it over, find the opposite use