SCAMPER is based on the notion that everything new is a modification of something that already exists. Each letter in the acronym represents a different way you can play with the characteristics of what is challenging you to trigger new ideas:

• S = Substitute
• C = Combine
• A = Adapt
• M = Magnify
• P = Put to Other Uses
• E = Eliminate (or Minify)
• R = Rearrange (or Reverse)

To use the SCAMPER technique, first state the problem you’d like to solve or the idea you’d like to develop. It can be anything: a challenge in your personal life or business; or maybe a product, service or process you want to improve. After pinpointing the challenge, it’s then a matter of asking questions about it using the SCAMPER checklist to guide you.

Consider, for instance, the problem "How can I increase sales in my business?"

Following the SCAMPER recipe, here are a few questions you could ask:

• S (Substitute): "What can I substitute in my selling process?"
• C (Combine): "How can I combine selling with other activities?"
• A (Adapt): "What can I adapt or copy from someone else’s selling process?"
• M (Magnify): "What can I magnify or put more emphasis on when selling?"
• P (Put to Other Uses): "How can I put my selling to other uses?"
• E (Eliminate): "What can I eliminate or simplify in my selling process?"
• R (Rearrange): "How can I change, reorder or reverse the way I sell?"

These questions force you to think differently about your problem and eventually come up with innovative solutions.