The 19 Judgment Points

Critical decision moments where human judgment determines discovery outcomes

Four Quality Dimensions

Framework for assessing how well you're exercising judgment

📊

Evidence Rigor

How good is the evidence underlying your decisions?

Weak Strong
High Rigor
  • Multiple independent sources
  • Quality honestly assessed
  • Gaps acknowledged
  • Conclusions proportional
Low Rigor
  • Single or convenient sources
  • All evidence treated equal
  • Gaps ignored
  • Strong claims, weak data
🔗

Reasoning Transparency

Can you explain how you got from evidence to conclusion?

Opaque Clear
High Transparency
  • Clear evidence → conclusion chain
  • Assumptions explicit
  • Reasoning challengeable
  • Documents explain "why"
Low Transparency
  • Conclusions without reasoning
  • "Gut feel" as analysis
  • Relies on implicit knowledge
  • Records "what" not "why"
🎯

Bias Awareness

Are you recognizing and compensating for cognitive biases?

Blind Aware
High Awareness
  • Active bias recognition
  • Deliberate countermeasures
  • Updates when bias found
  • Seeks challenging views
Low Awareness
  • Assumes objectivity
  • No countermeasures
  • Defensive when challenged
  • Similar perspectives only
📈

Learning Depth

Are you extracting maximum learning from experience?

Surface Deep
High Depth
  • Examines wrong decisions
  • Updates beliefs on evidence
  • Applies lessons across contexts
  • Teaches others
Low Depth
  • Blames circumstances
  • Holds beliefs despite evidence
  • Each project isolated
  • Learning stays personal

Stages, Activities & Artifacts

The complete discovery process from signal to handoff

Stage Activities Key Artifacts Judgment Points
Stage 0
Initiation		 0.1 Charter Development
0.2 Signal Analysis
0.3 Research Planning
0.4 Technical Landscape 		Discovery Charter Signal Assessment Research Plan Technical Check
Stage 1
Problem Discovery		 1.1 Segment Selection
1.2 Interview Planning
1.3 Research Execution
1.4 Synthesis
1.5 Opportunity Scoring 		Segment Profile Interview Protocol Job Statement Job Map Problem Statement Opportunity Scores
Stage 2
Solution Design		 2.1 Solution Ideation
2.2 Solution Evaluation
2.3 Assumption Mapping
2.4 Job Story Writing
2.5 Prototype Scoping 		OST Canvas Evaluation Matrix Assumption Map Job Stories Prototype Brief
Stage 3
Validation		 3.1 Experiment Design
3.2 Desirability Testing
3.3 Usability Testing
3.4 Feasibility Assessment
3.5 Viability Analysis
3.6 Evidence Synthesis
3.7 Confidence Assessment 		Experiment Design Test Scripts Observation Notes Evidence Log Confidence Dashboard
Stage 4
Handoff		 4.1 Package Assembly
4.2 Metrics Definition
4.3 Risk Documentation
4.4 Retrospective 		Handoff Package Success Metrics Risk Register Retrospective Canvas

Gate Decision Criteria

Checkpoints where evidence is reviewed and proceed/stop decisions are made

G1

Worth Exploring?

After Stage 0: Initiation

Key Criteria

  • Signal strength justified investment
  • Strategic alignment confirmed
  • No obvious technical blockers
  • Stakeholders aligned on goals
  • Research plan is feasible

Primary JPs

Possible Outcomes

Proceed Iterate Stop
G2

Worth Solving?

After Stage 1: Problem Discovery

Key Criteria

  • Problem validated with evidence
  • Opportunity score ≥12
  • Scope clearly defined
  • JTBD artifacts complete
  • Strategic fit confirmed

Primary JPs

Possible Outcomes

Proceed Iterate Pivot Stop
G3

Ready to Test?

After Stage 2: Solution Design

Key Criteria

  • Solution selected with rationale
  • Critical assumptions mapped
  • Risks prioritized
  • Prototype scope defined
  • Test plan ready

Primary JPs

Possible Outcomes

Proceed Iterate Stop
G4

Confident to Build?

After Stage 3: Validation

Key Criteria

  • Evidence across D/U/F/V
  • Confidence ≥75%
  • Critical assumptions validated
  • Remaining risks acceptable
  • Business case confirmed

Primary JPs

Possible Outcomes

Proceed Pivot Stop

JTBD Artifact Chain

The hierarchy of artifacts that anchor discovery in customer jobs

01
Job Statement
High-level job the customer is trying to accomplish
When [situation]
I want to [motivation]
So I can [outcome]
02
Job Steps
Sequential steps to accomplish the job
IDENTIFY → PLAN → EXECUTE → ASSESS → REVISE → CONCLUDE
03
Flow Diagram
Visual map showing loops, branches, handoffs
Steps + Sequence + Loops + Branches + Decision Points
04
Step Needs
What must go well at each step (ODI format)
Minimize [unwanted]
Maximize [desired]
+ Importance/Satisfaction scores
05
Job Stories
Actionable scenarios for solution design
When [situation]
I want to [action]
So I can [benefit]

Don't skip levels. Each artifact builds on the previous. Job Stories without Step Needs are just dressed-up feature requests. The chain creates traceability: story → need → step → job.