BHM™ Technical Bulletin 26-04: Step 1 – Validation Protocols
Figure 3.1: Selective Focus – Isolating the Problem-Solution Set
Document ID: BH-WP-01-A | TS Blackwell-Hart © 2025
Resource: The Inventor’s Toolbox™ (Volumes 1-3)
Core Module: Volume 1: Validating Ideas on a Budget
Framework: The Blackwell-Hart Methodology™ (BHM)
Status: Foundational Operational Standard
OvERview
Defining a concept is not a creative exercise—it is a clinical sharpening of a focused industrial picture. In the Blackwell-Hart Methodology™ (BHM), no technical development begins until your core functionality is solidly validated against genuine Market Friction. Step 1 is the most critical Phase-Gate: bridging the gap between curiosity and Industrial Reality.
The Phase-Gate Logic:
The BHM™ framework uses a Phase-Gate System to ensure that every invention moves forward only when the market need is proven. Step 1 provides the operational “algebra” to validate your solution before allocating capital to prototypes.
The Validation Protocol
To exit Phase-Gate 1 and move toward prototyping, the practitioner must capture the following quantitative data:
The 15-Word Core Functionality: Define the primary value your invention provides.
The 50-Word Problem Statement: Quantify the benefit over the feature.
15–20 In-Depth Interviews: Conducted using the BH Validation Protocol within a strict 14-day window.
Field Methodology – The “Missing Step”
Most frameworks suggest interviews; the BHM™ shows how to extract Actionable Data. This ensures no inventor wastes time or capital on Zero-Utility Research.
Field Sample (Worked Example)
To move from abstract concepts to Market-Validated Industrial Assets, replace placeholders with real-world measurements:
Problem Identification: "Hydraulic seal leakage causes 3–4 failures per month."
Benefit Quantification: "Reduces annualized throughput loss by $400,000."
Frequency Metric: Quantify how often the friction occurs.
Solution Gap: Define what your invention specifically bypasses (e.g., "Installation speed bypasses the 6-month procurement cycle").
Case Study: VitalPulse
The VitalPulse team avoided the “lifestyle tracking” trap by using the 15–20 Protocol. They identified a high-frequency Accuracy Gap and validated it with market data before building a single prototype. Their success proves that early, Structured Validation prevents wasted capital.
Conclusion
Do not build or prototype until Protocol BH-WP-01-A is completed. This is the first rule of the BHM™: replace guesswork with Measurable Data.
