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Competing Against Luck: The Story of Innovation and Customer Choice

by Clayton Christensen & Taddy Hall & Karen Dillon et al. · 2016

In a nutshell

Clayton Christensen's jobs-to-be-done theory, explaining how to understand what customers really want and create successful innovations.

Overview

Competing Against Luck introduces the Jobs to Be Done theory - a new way to understand what customers really want when they buy products.

Jobs Theory

Customers don't buy products or services; they hire them to do a job.

Understanding Customer Jobs

Functional Job: The practical task to accomplish Emotional Job: How customers want to feel Social Job: How customers want to be perceived

The Progress Framework

Customers are trying to make progress in specific circumstances. Understanding:

  • The struggling moment
  • The desired progress
  • The obstacles preventing progress

Application

  • Better market segmentation
  • More effective innovation
  • Stronger competitive positioning
  • Clearer product roadmaps

Examples

  • Why customers hire milkshakes
  • IKEA and Southern New Hampshire University success

Available for approximately $18-30.

Reference

Competing Against Luck: The Story of Innovation and Customer Choice — publisher / official page. Summary adapted from the Awesome Startup Books collection.

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