Introduction

Entrepreneurs are usually concerned with identifying an opportunity available in their surrounding environment. Then, they develop a business idea accordingly. Eventually, they proceed with how to turn this idea into a profitable business. This stressful cycle of development necessitates a high level of creativity, especially when solving problems. Unusual business ideas require thinking outside the box. However, is coming up with creative ideas a talent or a skill that can be polished? SCAMPER strategy has the answer to this question. The short answer to this question is “yes”. Nevertheless, there are several details beyond this short answer.  SCAMPER is an acronym standing for Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Magnify, Put to Other Uses, Eliminate, and Rearrange.    

Substitute and Combine

SCAMPER is a deliberate technique used for developing creative ideas based on factors available. The key here, however, is approaching these factors from various angles based on the problem or the situation available. Hence, when breaking down this technique, various approaches emerge. When encountering an issue related to a product or service, “Substitute” is an approach that suggests replacing a component or even a person involved in the production process to come up with more satisfying results. This approach should be preceded by identifying which elements need to be replaced for better results. The “Combine” approach, however, suggests merging two processes or components to come up with a new one, leading to better outcomes.       

Adapt, Magnify, and Put to Other Uses

“Adapt” is a third approach utilized when achieving better results via adapting available products or processes in the market to the current context. Here, entrepreneurs are inspired by a specific concept or idea available and borrow from it to improve their own products or services. When adopting the “Magnify” approach, however, they amplify a specific feature in the product or the service to strengthen the value or develop a new structure. This includes, for instance, increasing the scale of the process for better results. Divergent thinking skills are maximized when adopting the “Put to Other Uses” approach since new uses of the product or the service are explored, rather than the actual purposes originally developed. This may expand to include exploring new segments or even new applications of the product or the service available.  

Eliminate and Rearrange

When adopting the “Eliminate” approach, entrepreneurs target improving their products or services via simplifying features or components of the product or the service presented. This can occur by identifying the unnecessary or overcomplicated features or components and consequently eliminating them to develop a more convenient outcome. Nevertheless, the “Rearrange” approach implies shifting or reordering the available components of the service or the product while keeping all elements. It is an approach used to explore the possibilities emerging from various sequences of the process or different orders of elements available. There are several processes that can be fulfilled in the “Rearrange” approach. For instance, elements of the service or the product can be flipped or reversed. 

Conclusion

SCAMPER strategy helps entrepreneurs develop creative ideas professionally. It proves that creative thinking skills can be developed deliberately, following specific approaches according to the situation available, i.e., Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Magnify, Put to Other Uses, Eliminate, and Rearrange.