SCAMPER
A blank page is the hardest place to invent. It is far easier to take something that already exists, such as ReShelf's listing flow, a rival's feature or a habit from another industry, and push on it. SCAMPER gives you seven directions to push.
The rule
Take what exists and push it seven ways: SCAMPER.
Today, listing a book on ReShelf means taking photos, typing the title, author and edition, choosing a price, and waiting for messages. Here is that flow pushed through each letter:
| Letter | Question | ReShelf's listing flow |
|---|---|---|
| Substitute | What could we swap in? | Scan the barcode instead of typing the details |
| Combine | What could we merge? | Merge listing with last term's book list: tick your books, list them all at once |
| Adapt | What works elsewhere that we could borrow? | Borrow the library's return box: a drop-off shelf where sellers leave books |
| Modify | What could be bigger, smaller or different? | Magnify the price hint: show what the same book sold for last term |
| Put to another use | Who else could use this? | Use the campus meeting spots for swapping lab coats and calculators too |
| Eliminate | What could we remove? | Remove haggling: each book gets a fixed fair price |
| Reverse | What if we flipped the order or roles? | Buyers post what they want and sellers answer |
SCAMPER works on anything concrete: a feature, a process, a rival product, even a business model. It does not tell you which idea is good. It guarantees you looked in seven directions instead of one.
The shortcut
Pick one concrete thing, ask each letter as a question, and force at least one answer per letter in about two minutes, however silly. Silly answers are stepping stones to good ones.
Pick the concrete thing
Today a seller lists a book, then waits, often for days, for someone to message.
The trap is SCAMPERing something vague, like "the app". A vague target gives mush; "the ten-minute typing step" gives real ideas.
Drills
Answer fast — trust the rule.
"Let buyers post the books they want, and let sellers respond." Which SCAMPER letter produced this?
"Scan the barcode instead of typing the title." Which letter?
"Drop haggling completely; every book gets a fixed fair price." Which letter?
Which target gives SCAMPER the most to work with?
"Use ReShelf's campus meeting spots for swapping lab coats and calculators too." Which letter?
Remember
- SCAMPER: substitute, combine, adapt, modify, put to another use, eliminate, reverse.
- Aim it at one concrete thing and force an answer for every letter.
- Trap: a vague target like "the app", which gives vague ideas.