Using SCAMPER when working with GPT
When you are working with Generative A.I. (ChatGPT, Bing, Gemini, Claude), where the technology continually evolves, working iteratively will give you much better results than taking the first response to your prompt. We can take advantage of frameworks from our friends in the creative problem-solving industry and leverage Divergent thinking—generating multiple solutions to a single problem—pivotal to unlocking creative ideas and solutions. Enter the SCAMPER methodology, a time-tested strategy to catalyze divergent thought by dissecting and analyzing ideas through various lenses. By incorporating SCAMPER into your iterative process with Generative A.I., you generate a broader spectrum of possible solutions and refine and enrich the interplay between human creativity and machine intelligence.
S.C.A.M.P.E.R. is a creative technique that can help generate new and innovative ideas by asking questions and examining existing ones from different angles. It gives you the mental space to ideate and expand your cognitive thinking. This methodology can be beneficial when working with generative A.I. as it encourages a structured and systematic approach to a project or idea. Rather than taking the output from a G.P.T. system based on your prompt, you can iterate and evolve your conversation, which results in better output.
How exactly can you use SCAMPER when working with generative A.I.? Let me break it down step by step:
S – Substitute: Consider which elements of your project or idea could be substituted. For Example, could you use a different dataset or model architecture to achieve better results? You can substitute the 'act as' or audience portions of your prompts.
“Prompt Example: “Our model generates content based on the best practices of B2C (business-to-consumer) marketing strategies. What kind of marketing insights or strategies might we derive if we substituted this dataset with best practices from B2B (business-to-business) marketing?””
C – Combine: Consider how different elements of your project or idea could be combined in new and exciting ways. For Example, could you merge multiple models to generate more complex and diverse outputs?
“Prompt Example: “Our advertising copy is based on market research for product features. We also craft messages around customer testimonials. What kind of advertisement content could be produced if we combined the capabilities of both models, blending product features with authentic user experiences?””
A – Adapt: Consider adapting your existing project or idea to suit your needs better. For Example, could you modify your model to work with a different input data type?
“Prompt Example: “Our current forecasting tools primarily focus on historical sales data from urban areas. How might our predictions vary if we adapted these tools to also incorporate emerging market trends from rural regions, especially with the observed shift in consumer behaviors there?””
M – Modify: Consider how to modify your project's or idea's existing elements to make them more effective or efficient. For Example, could you adjust your training process to achieve better results with less data?
“Prompt Example: “The training process for my model currently requires vast amounts of data for high accuracy. How might I modify the training technique to achieve similar accuracy but with a fraction of the data?””
P – Put to Another Use: Consider how you can repurpose existing elements of your project or idea in new and unexpected ways. For Example, could you use your model to generate new data types or perform a different task altogether?
“Prompt: “We’ve gathered a wealth of data from our loyalty program. How could we put this data to another use, perhaps in refining our product development or in-store experiences?””
E – Eliminate: Consider which elements of your project or idea you could eliminate to simplify or streamline the process. For Example, could you remove certain features or data points to reduce the complexity of your model?
“Prompt Example: “Our marketing strategy includes many channels, making managing complex. Which channels might be less effective and could be eliminated to streamline our approach and focus on the most impactful ones?””
R – Reverse: Consider how you can reverse existing elements of your project or idea to achieve a different perspective. For Example, could you reverse the order of your input data to generate outputs in an other format?
“Prompt Example: “We’ve been positioning our brand as a leader in innovation. What if we reversed our narrative to highlight our heritage and longstanding tradition in the industry? How might this resonate with our audience?””
The SCAMPER methodology can help overcome creative blocks and generate innovative ideas when working with GPT platforms. The methodology encourages systematically approaching a project or idea and asking specific questions about each process element. It can help identify areas for improvement and produce fresh, creative solutions. Overall, SCAMPER is a technique that can help you generate more ideas when working with GPT. Give it a try and see if it helps you.
