Check out these popular JTBD book recommendations.

In a previous article, we covered training on the Jobs to be Done framework – a popular theory that describes and explores consumer action. If you’ve already reviewed our introductory training article, you may be interested in finding more resources to expand your knowledge about this framework and how to apply it to your own creative challenges and innovative problem-solving experiments. These Jobs to be Done books cover the skills and techniques of this framework in an easy to follow and understand way. Looking for even more literary choices to help you innovate? Check out our lists of innovation books and design thinking books to read.

The Jobs to be Done Playbook: Align Your Markets, Organizations, and Strategy Around Customer Needs

This classic guide to JTBD by Jim Kalbach packs a powerful punch. The book covers the basics of JTBD as well as some insider tips and advice on how to apply lessons to your own life. Find techniques to make offerings that people want and strategies that make people want your offering. Get it here.

Jobs to be Done: Theory to Practice

Tony Ulwick has spent over 25 years helping companies put JTBD theory into practice, and he’s taken his insights and shared them in this book. The book covers topics like why innovation fails, how to employ the framework to customer needs, the language of Jobs to be Done, and much more. Get it here.

Jobs to Be Done: A Roadmap for Customer-Centered InnovationJobs to be Done: A Roadmap for Customer-Centered Innovation

The world is changing, and innovation is needed to move an organization forward. In this guide, you’ll learn how to figure out what customers want (even when they can’t express it), sort valuable insights from less useful data, dig into the “why”, develop solutions that work, spot emerging trends, and more. Get it here.

What Customers Want: Using Outcome-Driven Innovation to Create Breakthrough Products and Services

In this related read by Tony Ulwick, you’ll learn about an “outcome-driven” innovation approach that turns innovation from an art into a science that produces actionable results. Using case studies and plenty of advice, Ulwick will explore how to use customer input to identify ideas, technologies, and solutions that will create the most customer value and lead to unique product and service breakthroughs. Get it here.

Competing Against Luck: The Story of Innovation and Customer Choice

Clayton Christensen, the leader behind JTBD, argues that understanding customer jobs is what drives innovation success. Read this book for an understanding of the roots of Jobs to be Done theory and why and how it can be used in the real world. Get it here.

The Innovator’s Solution (Creating and Sustainability Successful Growth)

Another book by Clayton Christensen (and fellow author Michael Raynor), The Innovator’s Solution expands on the idea of disruption and how organizations can become disruptors themselves to drive innovation. This is a must-read for management and leadership, as well as those interested in Jobs to be Done theory. Get it here.

When Coffee and Kale Compete: Become great at making products people will buy

This book helps you become better at creating and selling products people will buy by applying JTBD theory to real life. The book features examples of success and failure, so you can take lessons learned and apply it to your own project or organizational challenge. Get it here.

The Jobs-to-be-Done Handbook: Practical Techniques for Improving Your Application of Jobs-to-be-Done

This book is for those who have a basic grasp of JTBD concepts and want to strengthen their techniques and get results. Written by Chris Spiek and Bob Moesta, you’ll find fantastic tips and guidance inside to apply JTBD to your own projects. Get it here.

Jobs to Be Done Books Conclusion

This list of Jobs to be Done books offer helpful resources, tips, and advice when you want to learn more about the JTBD framework and find real-world strategies you can use personally. Check out our innovation and design thinking resource blog for additional tips and techniques today. Contact us if you need an innovation keynote speaker or innovation workshop.