Do you find yourself scamper a lot in your business? Do you find it useful to scampering, everywhere you go? Do you think, scampering is it useful during your working hours? Well, perhaps, yes, perhaps no. Depends on the definition you give!
For me, SCAMPER has a lot of a different meaning. Sometimes in your professional (or personal life!), you need the generation of new ideas and concepts, that would solve, fix or substitute older ones (no more adequately working!). Therefore, there are times, you are in need for the development of new approaches, ideas, procedures, services for your business, the things you are doing or the things you planning to do.
Specifically, the e-Business and e-Learning disciplines (fields I’m professionally working in!), are more demanding (and aggressive, as well, sometimes!) in the rapid adopting and employing of new ideas, approaches, and variations. For this reason, I’m always on the look for new tools that can provide a better framework for either the development or the modification or the new (creative!) usage of available resources!
About SCAMPER(-ing)
In essence, scamper means:
A quick light run or movement (from The Free Dictionary: Scamper)
but, in the ecosystem of creative problem-solving techniques has an entirely different meaning!
SCAMPER is a brainstorming technique and stands for:
- Substitute
- Combine
- Adapt
- Modify
- Put to another use
- Eliminate
- Reverse
Its implementation depends on the reflection and answering of simple, typical questions, that triggers new ideas, incentives, connections, and approaches!
Why SCAMPER At Business?
SCAMPER depends on the notion that everything new based on old ideas, approaches, which if they relate properly, intentionally and focused on a new content and context can create new “interested” connotations, connections, relations, solutions, approaches, and ideas.
As Isaac Newton pointed out:
If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants (From Wikipedia: Standing on the shoulders of giants)
As a creativity trigger and brainstorming tool, SCAMPER is valuable in business (as The Business Model Canvas is for modeling a business), since can produce new solutions, ideas, products and services, and provide a new environment for the flourishing of innovation trends within an established business environment!
Furthermore, as a tool for the creation and development of new ideas, SCAMPER technique can be used for mentally “reviewing” various components of your business and play with them, test them against different conditions and scenarios!
SCAMPER brainstorming technique can be used effectively and in the personal field. As part of a “personal” creativity toolbox if used intentionally and focused, can play, as well, a vital role in the creative process, producing admirable results, in almost all the sections of your personal life.
Question: Do you find SCAMPER useful for providing you with new insights for your business or life? You are going to use SCAMPER as a tool in solving everyday business or personal problems, or no?
Hello Takis,
Great thoughts. This is an important formal to know and adapt. If we really want to grow successful business we have to be willing to change, adapt, and modify.
Hi Dan. Yes I share the same opinion. As the time stands (in Europe at least, I’m not quite sure about the USA) changing is a, more or less, one way option. for this we need better ideas approaches and eventually tools that would help us to change, do what have you to do and prepare your, personal and professional, future.
Once upon a time, Dan, I have read (in different times) 2 ads that make me a huge impression (words after all these time are part of my personal mental “toolkit” ). The one says that: “Future belongs to those who prepare it” (roughly quote it, if memory serves) and the other one: “Success is a mind game” (very famous campaign of a watch brand!). If you considered a little further, eventually, everything boils down on you (me!) and your (mine!) selections in life.
Let’s have a wonderful 2014, honoring our selections and choices! And let’s think big on ourselves, our dreams, our intentions and our objectives. Let’s thing huge on the future we would like to change and live in!
Great quotes! Yes, the future belongs for those who take action.
Thank you Dan for your kind words!