The model

Three building blocks

Every act of making uses three building blocks. A Need: what is desired or problematic. Resources: people, skills, tools, time. A Solution: the system being built. Making is what happens as you work to connect them.

Six building tasks

How the building blocks connect

There are six ways to connect the building blocks. Each one is a distinct task when making something.

Task 1

Scoping

Resources → Need

“What's possible given what we have?”

Scoping uses existing resources to evaluate and shape what's needed. A strong scoper quickly eliminates the impossible and anchors a project in reality. The risk: when scoping becomes a ceiling that overly restricts ambition.

Task 2

Specification

Need → Solution

“What should we make to meet the need?”

Specification uses the need to define the solution. A strong specifier produces clarity on what to build. The risk: the spec is only as good as it is realistic. Some needs are not yet known. Available resources change.

Task 3

Provisioning

Need → Resources

“What resources are required?”

Provisioning uses the need to build new capacity: recruiting people, acquiring tools and materials, developing skills. A strong provisioner enables the work. The risk: provisioning consumes time and budget. Going over or under eats into delivery.

Task 4

Delivery

Resources → Solution

“How do we get this done?”

Delivery uses resources to create the solution. A strong deliverer pushes until something gets made. The risk: speed without sufficient specification or verification accumulates debt.

Task 5

Verification

Solution → Resources

“Did we make the solution correctly?”

Verification assesses what was built and how it was built. A strong verifier turns output into learning. Defects become signals, not failures. The risk: more verification means more delay.

Task 6

Validation

Solution → Need

“Does the solution meet the need?”

Validation sees if the solution works in context. A strong validator prevents expensive missteps from ineffective solutions. The risk: constant validation slows things down and limits the freedom that building requires.

How you build

Your making pattern

Everyone does all six building tasks. What differs is which ones you truly enjoy doing and which ones you do when needed. Bold tasks show where you thrive. Faded tasks show what you tend to miss.