SCAMPER Template

What is SCAMPER?

SCAMPER is a structured ideation tool designed to enhance creative thinking and innovation by prompting systematic questions around an existing product, service, or process. The acronym SCAMPER stands for Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify (or Magnify/Minify), Put to another use, Eliminate, and Reverse (or Rearrange). Each of these seven categories is used to reframe a problem or opportunity, unlocking new possibilities that may not be immediately obvious.

Unlike free-form brainstorming, SCAMPER provides a scaffold framework that guides teams through a wide array of mental shifts. It supports both incremental improvements and disruptive ideas, making it a versatile tool for innovation professionals, product designers, marketing teams, and operations leaders alike.

The SCAMPER method is particularly helpful when teams are working on optimization, revitalizing stale concepts, developing enhancements, or identifying novel market opportunities. It challenges conventional thinking and encourages exploration by shifting the lens through which problems are viewed.

SCAMPER in Innovation

SCAMPER plays a strategic role in innovation by helping teams move beyond status quo solutions. When applied to real-world projects, it can:

• Revitalize existing offerings that are underperforming.
• Fuel idea generation for product updates or extensions.
• Spark creativity in process design or service enhancements.
• Discover unconventional ways to solve persistent customer problems.

For example, a team working on an e-commerce platform may use SCAMPER to reimagine the checkout experience. By asking, “What can we eliminate?” they might reduce form fields to speed up the process. Through “What can we adapt?” they may borrow ideas from a subscription-based model to improve retention.

This tool is especially valuable in early-stage ideation, continuous improvement cycles, design thinking workshops, or cross-functional innovation sprints. It ensures that idea generation is not just wide-ranging, but also anchored in real challenges and tangible opportunities.

SCAMPER helps teams:

• Generate large quantities of ideas in a short period.
• Reframe existing knowledge into new combinations.
• Prioritize ideas for testing and development.
• Explore both radical and practical innovations.

Its structured yet flexible format empowers individuals and groups to think creatively, challenge assumptions, and co-create with greater alignment.

Getting Started with the SCAMPER Template

To apply the SCAMPER method effectively in an innovation project, follow the structured prompts associated with each of the seven categories. Here is a step-by-step guide.

1. Define the Focus Area

Start by identifying the product, service, process, or concept to be improved or reimagined. Ensure the team has a shared understanding of the challenge or objective. Examples include:

• A mobile app feature that users underutilize.
• A customer service process causing delays.
• A marketing campaign that needs to drive more engagement.

Capture the focus area in a short, descriptive sentence that frames the context.

2. Prepare the SCAMPER Grid

Create a table or template with each SCAMPER prompt as a header:

• Substitute
• Combine
• Adapt
• Modify/Magnify/Minify
• Put to another use
• Eliminate
• Reverse/Rearrange

Leave space beneath each header for team inputs.

3. Facilitate Idea Generation by Prompt

Work through each SCAMPER category one at a time. Ask open-ended questions to spark discussion and ideation. Sample questions include:

Substitute:

• What materials, components, or people can be substituted?
• Can we swap distribution channels or business models?

Combine:

• What ideas, features, or functions can be combined?
• Can we integrate with another product or service?

Adapt:

• What else is like this? What can we borrow from other industries?
• Can we repurpose a similar solution in a new way?

Modify (or Magnify/Minify):

• Can we exaggerate a feature to enhance its value?
• Can we simplify or miniaturize a component?

Put to Another Use:

• What else can this be used for?
• Can another audience benefit from this solution?

Eliminate:

• What can we remove without losing value?
• Are there steps, features, or costs we can cut?

Reverse (or Rearrange):

• Can we change the sequence, flow, or structure?
• What happens if we invert the user journey?

Encourage the team to contribute freely, and record every idea, no matter how unconventional.

4. Cluster and Prioritize Ideas

After generating ideas across all categories:

• Group similar ideas into themes.
• Identify quick wins vs. long-term opportunities.
• Use criteria such as feasibility, impact, and alignment with goals to prioritize.

Dot voting or a prioritization matrix can help teams converge on high-potential concepts.

5. Select Concepts for Prototyping or Testing

Choose top ideas to move into rapid prototyping, MVP development, or testing:

• Create low-fidelity mockups or storyboards.
• Use design sprints to validate assumptions.
• Collect feedback from users or stakeholders.

This step turns SCAMPER ideas into actionable experiments.

Project Recommendations for Success

Getting Stuck in Literal Thinking

Encourage abstract, metaphorical, or wild ideas first.

• Remind the team there are no wrong answers during ideation.
• Use examples from unrelated industries.
• Push beyond the first layer of responses.

Overlooking Practical Implementation

Balance creativity with execution.

• After ideation, evaluate feasibility and value.
• Assign team members to research cost, time, and complexity.
• Combine imaginative concepts with practical anchors.

Dominance by One Voice

Ensure all perspectives are included.

• Use round-robin or brainwriting methods.
• Set time for silent reflection before discussion.
• Rotate facilitators or discussion leads.

Lack of Focus or Clear Challenge

A vague prompt leads to scattered ideas.

• Define the problem clearly upfront.
• Align the team on the desired outcome.
• Use customer pain points or data to ground the session.

Complementary Tools and Templates for Success

• SCAMPER Grid Template – A ready-to-use worksheet with prompts and space for notes.
• Innovation Prompt Cards – Supplement SCAMPER with targeted questions.
• Idea Evaluation Scorecard – Helps assess SCAMPER ideas across key criteria.
• Rapid Prototyping Toolkit – Guides the transition from idea to testable solution.
• Customer Insight Tracker – Links SCAMPER ideas back to user needs and research.

Conclusion

SCAMPER is a powerful ideation tool that transforms how teams approach challenges. By systematically applying substitution, combination, adaptation, and other creative lenses, it encourages teams to reimagine the familiar, challenge assumptions, and explore new possibilities.

Unlike open-ended brainstorming, SCAMPER provides structure without stifling creativity. It invites teams to build on existing assets, ask strategic questions, and uncover untapped opportunities. This balance of structure and imagination makes it an essential tool in any innovator’s toolkit.

When applied thoughtfully, SCAMPER leads to innovations that are not only novel but also grounded in customer insight and strategic direction. It accelerates idea generation, improves collaboration, and helps organizations turn inspiration into execution. Whether used in a design sprint, a strategic planning session, or a product workshop, SCAMPER unlocks creative potential and drives meaningful change.