Week 3

 Further Ideation:

•We have a broad topic of what to work on, we may even have a solution in mind…

•But is this perceived solution really well identified and able to deliver good results?

The question we might ask: What else can we do and how can we do it better?

Don't worry! SCAMPER is on the Rescue!

1. What is SCAMPER❓❓❓

SCAMPER is a method, or in other word- checklist for us to organize our ideas when brainstorming.

S = Substitute

Meaning: Substituting part of the problem/product/process for something else.

C = Combine

Meaning: combining two or more parts of your probortunity to achieve a different product/process or to enhance synergy.

A = Adapt

Meaning: Which parts of the problem/product/process could be adapted to remove the probortunity or think how you could change the nature of it.

M = Modify

Meaning: Changing part or all of the current situation, or to distort it in an unusual way

P = Put to Another Use

Meaning: How you might be able to put your current solution/ product/process to other purposes, or think of what you could reuse from somewhere else in order to solve your own probortunity. 

E = Eliminate

Meaning: What might happen if you eliminated various parts of the product/process/probortunity. 

R = Reverse

Meaning: Think of what you would do if part of your probortunity/product/process worked in reverse or done in a different order. 

Our SCAMPER Ideas💡:

Substitute	Combine	Adapt	Modify
Substitute the motor with rechargeable batteries.	Solar energy generated batteries.	Add the rubber sleeve on the handle of the vacuum cleaner.	Change the size of the blade to be smaller. Modify the size of the motor of the vacuum cleaner that is located around the handle. Install a cleanliness indicator to vacuum cleaner to detect the cleanliness of the cleaned area.

Put to another use	Eliminate	Reverse
Save the time for mopping the floor.

Ideas Elimination Session: ❌

Feasibility Analysis gives us an opportunity to gain better understanding about our project. More specifically, it asks about technically feasibility and operational feasibility.

Feasibility Analysis

Idea #1: Cleanliness indicator.	YES	NO
Budget -    Less than S$2000?	✓
Project Timeline - Can be completed within one semester?	✓
Technical Feasibility - Evaluate the technical feasibility of the project.
·         Is the project feasible within the limits of current technology?	✓
·         Are the required utilities available?	✓
·         Does the lab have necessary testing and fabrication equipment?		✓
·         Does it need any computer software and hardware?	✓
·         Do we possess the necessary technical expertise and skills?		✓
·         Does the lab have sufficient space to support the project?	✓
Operational Feasibility
a.       Does the project team have sufficient manpower to carry out the project?	✓
b.       Is it legal to operate the project?	✓
c.       Is it safe to operate the project?	✓

 

Idea#2 : Add rubber sleeve on the handle for comfort.	YES	NO
Budget -    Less than S$2000?	✓
Project Timeline - Can be completed within one semester?	✓
Technical Feasibility - Evaluate the technical feasibility of the project.
·         Is the project feasible within the limits of current technology?	✓
·         Are the required utilities available?	✓
·         Does the lab have necessary testing and fabrication equipment?	✓
·         Does it need any computer software and hardware?		✓
·         Do we possess the necessary technical expertise and skills?	✓
·         Does the lab have sufficient space to support the project?	✓
Operational Feasibility
a.       Does the project team have sufficient manpower to carry out the project?	✓
b.       Is it legal to operate the project?	✓
c.       Is it safe to operate the project?	✓

Idea #3 : Solar energy generated batteries.	YES	NO
Budget -    Less than S$2000?	✓
Project Timeline - Can be completed within one semester?	✓
Technical Feasibility - Evaluate the technical feasibility of the project.
·         Is the project feasible within the limits of current technology?	✓
·         Are the required utilities available?	✓
·         Does the lab have necessary testing and fabrication equipment?	✓
·         Does it need any computer software and hardware?	✓
·         Do we possess the necessary technical expertise and skills?	✓
·         Does the lab have sufficient space to support the project?	✓
Operational Feasibility
a.       Does the project team have sufficient manpower to carry out the project?	✓
b.       Is it legal to operate the project?	✓
c.       Is it safe to operate the project?	✓

Finally, COWS Method❗❗❗

Again, what does it means by COWS?:

Criteria- Relevance

Options- All Feasible

Weighing- Contextualise 

Score- Assessment

Decision Matrix Template:

Criteria	Weightages	Options
		Cleanliness  indicator.		Add rubber sleeve for comfort.		Solar energy generated batteries.
		Raw Score	Weighted Score	Raw Score	Weighted Score	Raw Score	Weighted Score
a. Cost-effectiveness	30	3	90	4	120	3	90
b. Weight	20	3	60	5	100	4	80
c. Convenience for users	15	3	45	4	60	4	60
d. Energy efficiency	15	3	45	2	30	5	75
e.Ease of manufacturing	15	2	30	5	75	3	45
Score	100		270		385		350

Therefore, the winner is Rubber Sleeve for the handle of the Portable Vacuum Cleaner.

Reflection for Week 3:

Ambrose:

This week was quite different from other weeks. For example, besides COWS Method, we were introduced two new methods which were feasibility analysis and SCAMPER method. For me, I think the most difficult part was the SCAMPER Method because we would have to come out with chemical products by that method. After clarifications by Dr Noel, I had a better understanding about that and I was able to figure it out.

Joshua:

My secondary school was the School of Science and Technology, which placed great emphasis on teaching innovation and design to its students especially in the lower years. Because of this, I was already familiar with the concepts of COWS and SCAMPER. Thus, I did not feel that I had a significantly difficult time utilising these concepts to ideate and evaluate our choices.

Yongjie:

Edmund:

I have learnt about SCAMPER and Feasibility Analysis. We were tasked to complete SCAMPER, COWS, Feasibility Analysis together as a team and we struggled a lot for our SCAMPER. This is because the products that we thought of could not make use of all the components of SCAMPER as the products are used for only one function or ways to eliminate our products' parts as all the parts play a part to make the product work. Dr Noel has helped us to brainstorm our SCAMPER by providing us ideas which we used.