Here's a new guest post by Woody Bendle as he looks around Kansas City for applications of a creative thinking exercise called SCAMPER. Similar to the Trait Transformation creative thinking exercise, SCAMPER helps you take a fresh look at your brand and all the things associated with it. Here's Woody's exploration of SCAMPER around Kansas City!
As I was preparing for an upcoming presentation on Customer Experience Innovation, I began to outline some of my favorite innovation / creativity thinking tools. One of my favorite innovation / brainstorming (or Brainzooming) tools is SCAMPER.
SCAMPER stands for:
SCAMPER is a really effective creative thinking exercise for helping you systematically think through creative and innovative solutions. And, once you are familiar with it, you’ll actually begin thinking about the different products and services you encounter as possible outcomes from SCAMPER.
The Sunflower Group developed a business around the notion of substitution. Their associates are employed as a substitute for a grocery store’s or a package goods company’s employees to conduct in store sampling / taste testing and promotions.
Applebee’s combined with Weight Watchers to create “endorsed” meals on their menu – complete with points.
GARMIN – Adapted several of the technologies in their Forerunner 110 (timer, pace, distance and heart rate monitor).
Boulevard Brewing - Has employed a zero landfill policy, minimizing their impact on the environment.
Hallmark – Took the micro-recording capability from their audio greeting cards and created a line of audio narrated children’s books. (You might want to have a couple tissues when you watch this video)
CERNER – Eliminated the conventional medical record keeping method (paper and folders) and replaced it with their software solution.
AMC Theatres - Employed Reverse through their Dine-In Theatres by having theater employees bring food and beverages to their guests instead of having their guests go to the concession stand to pick up their own food.
I could literally go on and on with many more examples of how local Kansas City companies have employed SCAMPER as part of their creative thinking in one way or another to innovate; but I’d rather hear from you!
Please share some examples from your neck of the woods that suggest how this creative thinking tool is being used with great success. - Woody Bendle
Download the free ebook, “Taking the NO Out of InNOvation” to help you generate fantastic creative thinking and ideas! For an organizational creativity boost, contact The Brainzooming Group to help your team be more successful by rapidly expanding strategic options and creating innovative plans to efficiently implement. Email us at info@brainzooming.com or call us at 816-509-5320 to learn how we can deliver these benefits for you.