Turn Problems Inside Out When Seeking Solutions

Some problems require fresh, innovative thinking. One way to search for creative solutions is to remember the acronym SCAMPER:

• Substitute. Replace an element that’s part of the problem. Use a   different material, ingredient, or person and see what happens.
• Combine. Put elements together. If you can’t decide whether to use salt or pepper in a recipe, try both.
• Adapt. Look outside the problem for someone you can use to address it. Velcro was invented by someone who looked closely at how burrs stuck to clothing and adapted the idea.
• Minimize or maximize. Make something smaller or larger. Instead of targeting the mass market with a new product, for example, maybe you can find a small niche to sell it to.
• Put things to a different purpose. Look for a different application. Instead of an entrée, maybe what you’ve cooked could be an appetizer or dessert.
• Eliminate. Look for elements you don’t need. Often we include steps in a process out of habit, for example, whether they still serve the original purpose or not.
• Rearrange. Put the elements in a different order or reverse them completely. You spot what’s missing more easily in a new arrangement.