The Job to be Done Framework
The Job to be Done (JTBD) framework is a customer-centric approach to understanding and solving customer problems. It helps organizations to gain a deeper understanding of their customers' needs and desires, and to design products and services that meet those needs. The JTBD framework is based on the idea that customers don't buy products or services; they hire them to do a job.
The Origin of the Job to be Done Framework
The JTBD framework was first introduced by Clayton Christensen, a Harvard Business School professor, in his book "The Innovator's Dilemma". In the book, Christensen argues that the key to successful innovation is understanding what jobs customers are trying to get done, and designing products that better meet their needs.
How the Job to be Done Framework Works
The JTBD framework starts by focusing on the customer and their needs, rather than the product or service being offered. The goal is to understand the context in which a customer is trying to get a job done, and the underlying motivations, desires, and pain points associated with that job.
To apply the JTBD framework, organizations must first identify the specific job that their customers are trying to get done. This job is usually expressed as a statement such as "I want to find a way to make my mornings less rushed." Once the job has been identified, organizations can then gather data on the customer's context, motivations, desires, and pain points. This information can be gathered through interviews, surveys, and observation.
With this information, organizations can then design solutions that better meet the customer's needs. For example, if the customer's job is to make their mornings less rushed, a solution might be a mobile app that helps them plan and prioritize their daily tasks.
The Benefits of the Job to be Done Framework
There are several key benefits to using the JTBD framework, including:
- A deeper understanding of customer needs: By focusing on the job that the customer is trying to get done, organizations can gain a deeper understanding of the customer's needs and desires. This understanding can then be used to design solutions that better meet those needs.
- Innovation: By understanding the customer's needs and desires, organizations can develop new products and services that better meet those needs. This can lead to increased innovation and a competitive advantage.
- Improved customer satisfaction: By designing solutions that better meet the customer's needs, organizations can improve customer satisfaction and increase loyalty.
How to Use the Job to be Done Framework
DiscoveryBuddy can help you apply the JTBD framework to your business. It uses AI to generate a draft JTBD analysis for your business, and then provides you with a list of recommended next steps. You can then use this information to improve your business and increase your chances of success.
As an example, you can see how it generates a persona below. It works the same way for JTBD analysis.

Conclusion
The Job to be Done framework is a customer-centric approach to understanding and solving customer problems. It helps organizations to gain a deeper understanding of their customers' needs and desires, and to design products and services that meet those needs. The JTBD framework is based on the idea that customers don't buy products or services; they hire them to do a job.