What do you call it...

[dsrtao]

...when someone has a technical problem, and they have managed to deduce that there should be a solution, and even what the outline of that solution might be, but...

the major obstacle to their solution is that it requires someone competent -- in precisely the ways that they have shown that they are not -- to execute it smoothly?

They drew a wheel, but they don't know how to make one.

If it happens for existing solutions, how often does it happen for original ideas, which are then shelved because of poor or non-existent execution?

Comments

[siderea]

I wish I knew. Also, more specifically in my life, I knew how one got from idea/blueprint to hiring someone to fabricate a prototype, to going into production of a physical good. Because from time to time, I've figured I might have a great idea for an invention, but no idea how to go about reifying it -- or finding the necessary people to hire to do that work.

[hfcougar.livejournal.com]

This happens to me a lot; I usually just look for someone smarter in the necessary skill set than me.

It probably happens to original ideas a great deal because no one wants to give up their idea but they can't personally realize their vision on their own. Or the realize it ineffectually and then everyone thinks it sucks.

[metahacker.livejournal.com]

Isn't this why we have companies, and brainstorming, and friends?

I think it's called "community", or maybe "collaboration". Or "entrepreneurship", in the commercial extreme. Heck, there are businesses that revolve around putting together groups to overcome such situations.

The problem times come when the person without the skill is Convinced that they are the only one who can execute their idea. If they are able to acquire the skill, well, then, perhaps the idea will eventually be executed well, and catch on. But if they don't, they may skunk the idea for years to come. Or an undermotivated creator may give up on it too early--persistence is often as important as skill.

[pale-chartreuse.livejournal.com]

Adam Smith in "The Wealth of Nations" refers to it as the 'division of labour'. I'm not sure that this is the first use of the term, but it is probably the most famous.

Steven K Brust is reviewing "Wealth" chapter by chapter on his dreamwidth/lj feed. Of course, he is doing so from his own point of view, which seems to lean towards the socialist end of the spectrum. Interesting reading.