The Jobs-to-be-Done Handbook: Practical techniques for improving your application of Jobs-to-be-Done

by Chris Spiek, Bob Moesta

We’ve written this book for the Jobs-to-be-Done student and practitioner who has a basic grasp of JTBD concepts (Forces Diagram, JTBD Timeline, Interview Process) and wants to strengthen their technique and continue to get better results out of their application of Jobs-to-be-Done. How to Use This Book The only person who knows what you’ll hire this book for is you (but we have our theories). Not Quite Ready? There are lots of resources available to help you get caught up on the Jobs-to-be-Done basics. Visit JobstobeDone.org and think

Genres: Business, Design, Entrepreneurship

66 pages, Paperback

First published April 23, 2014

Reviews

[Jon Nguyen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a nice summary of the Bob Moesta approach to jobs-to-be-done research, the only one I've actually found in book form. It's a type of foundational exploratory research that I've found useful over the years, something that most companies don't seem to do enough.

That said, it's not a very good book on the details or techniques of customer research. A lot of it reads like it was written by dilettantes who aren't aware of the depth of pre-existing knowledge out there on how to do user research. Topics like how to recruit and screen people are covered in a few sentences, so it feels like they don't use the highest level of rigor in their application of the technique.

But if you can look past all that, there's a useful kernel here to this approach to JTBD that doesn't get covered in other types of exploratory user reserach. It's about figuring out how people first come to your product in the context of their lives, and identifying the internal and external factors that even they didn't realize were influencing their decisions to use or not use a product.

[Cedric Chin · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I evaluated this according to the value of the content in this book: 5 stars. It's brilliant.

But I paid a lot of money for a very thin book, and the book had typos. So, I'm knocking one star off my rating. (Then again, everyone knows that ratings on Goodreads are arbitrary anyway, so don't mind me!)

[Alexandra K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not knowing much about JTBD, except for what my boss told me about, this book gives a great overview where I feel like I understand the concept. The book is also laid out really nicely as a tool to help you through interviews and when you need to quickly revise something. You’ll find what you’re looking for easily. I look forward to checking out the podcast and course to understand it even more.

[Max Johansson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muy buen libro, muy claro. Al comienzo lo vi como una presentación de power point en formato libro pero es realmente bueno y liviano. Orienta respecto a lo esencial de JTBD, falto presentar algunos casos prácticos de ejemplo.

[Ashlyn Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for a class I'm in—great interview tips if you're a copywriter or need R&D insight!

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you create, sell or have an idea for a product this is a super short perfect read for you.

[Austin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a useful handbook for carrying out market research using the jobs-to-be-done methodology, mostly in that it contains many nuggets of practical advice from practitioners who've completed tens of thousands of customers interviews, and who by now have developed keen insights into the reasons why people 'hire,' or purchase, the things they do.

I'll be using the book as I carry out my own market research. It does read a bit like a gussied up slide deck, and there are numerous typos; however, it fulfills its value proposition in a succinct and targeted way.

[Islam · Rating 3 out of 5]

A practical handbook if you are new to the JTBD. It provides useful tips on conducting interviews and selecting candidates.