Ideation Techniques – Part 2

In continuation to the previous blog on Promoting and Nurturing Innovation and Ideation Techniques- Part 1 let us go through other advance techniques such as SCAMPER, Mind Map, and Reverse thinking for idea generation.

SCAMPER:

SCAMPER is an acronym, where each letter stands for an action verb which in turn acts as a prompt for creative ideas. Each letter challenges you to play around the features of an object (product/service) in a different way bringing in new ideas.

SCAMPER is extensively used in scenarios of product development and improvement. This is based on a simple idea of “what is new is actually a modification of existing old things around us”

This idea generation technique utilizes action verbs as stimuli. It is a well-known technique developed by Bob Eberie, assisting a person in coming up with ideas of modification that can be made on an existing product or for making a new product.

What is new is actually a modification of existing old things around us

If you use this tool for asking questions about existing products, employing each of the seven prompts above, you will be able to come up with creative ideas for developing new products or improving on the current ones.

Substitute	Focuses on product parts, service or solution that can be replaced with another
Combine	Analyses the possibility of merging two ideas, stages of the process or products in one efficient output
Adapt	Adjusts or tweaks products or services for a better output
Modify	Changing the process in a way that unleashes more innovative capabilities or solves problems
Put to another use	Focuses on how to put the current product or process to use for another purpose or how to use the existing product to solve problems
Eliminate	Aims to identify parts of the process that can be eliminated to improve product or service
Reverse	The reverse or rearrange technique aims to explore the innovative potential while changing the order of the process in the production line

MINDMAP:

Mind Mapping is a highly effective technique of getting information in and out of your brain. This creative and logical method of note-taking and note-making enables the mapping of ideas.

In this graphical technique, participants build a web of relationships and bring them to life visually. To get started with the simplest form of Mind Mapping, the participants write a problem statement or key phrase in the middle of the page. Then, they write solutions and ideas that come to their mind on the very same page. After that, participants connect their solutions and ideas by curves or lines to its minor or major (previous or following) fact or idea.

Mind Map is a 3 step process:

Start in the middle of a blank page/board
- Write or draw the idea you intend to develop
Develop the related subtopics around this central topic
- Connect each of them to the central theme/phrase with a line
Repeat the same process for the subtopics
- Generate lower-level subtopics, connecting each of those to the corresponding subtopic

Following are the key attributes:

Graphical representation: Acts as a trigger for the brain to induce creativity
Associates words with visual representation
Words, tasks are linked to key (central) topic, key word or idea

REVERSE THINKING:

Reverse thinking is like reverse brainstorming, where instead of working on a challenge, you are expected to think about opposite scenarios.

For instance, instead of asking how to solve or prevent a particular problem, you can think of scenarios which could possibly cause the problem.

Again, instead of wondering how to achieve the results, you might think of how to achieve the opposite effects.

Once you have brainstormed all the ideas to solve the reverse problem, now reverse these into solution ideas for the original problem or challenge. Then evaluate these ideas for a potential solution or attributes of a potential solution. Reverse thinking is a good technique to try when it is difficult to identify solutions to the problem directly.

WORST IDEA POSSIBLE:

Another effective technique is to envision the worst possible idea which not only creates a lot of fun but also saves the time when nothing else seems to be working. This refreshes the mind post rigorous brainstorming. This also allows the team to re-engage. From the list, it is easy to choose good scenarios and “not that bad” cases.

Do use one of these ideation techniques to come up with solutions for your next challenge!