Fieldcraft vs Factory Thinking

Factory thinking assumes stable inputs, predictable outputs, and constant cadence. It optimizes for repeatability, throughput, and schedule adherence.

Fieldcraft assumes variable terrain, incomplete information, and judgment under uncertainty. It optimizes for orientation, adaptation, and survival under changing conditions.

Many modern technical problems are field problems treated as factory work. The result is brittle systems, premature certainty, and progress that looks smooth until it collapses.

Fieldcraft does not reject structure. It relies on different structure:

• orientation over schedules
• boundaries over checklists
• adaptation over compliance

This distinction explains much of the project’s workflow, cadence, and separation between exploration and commitment. It also explains why progress may appear uneven while understanding accumulates underneath.

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