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 Initial Stakeholder Check-in
0.2 Initial Signal Validation
0.3 Domain Orientation
0.4 Draft JTBD Artifacts
0.5 Research and Technical Planning
0.6 Discovery Charter and Stakeholder Alignment 		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 Prototype Scope & Design
2.5 Prototype Creation 		OST Canvas Evaluation Matrix Assumption Map Job Stories Prototype Brief
Stage 3
Validation		 3.1 Experiment Design
3.2 D/U/F/V Testing
3.3 Evidence Synthesis
3.4 Confidence Assessment 		Experiment Design Test Scripts Observation Notes Evidence Log Confidence Profile
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

Evidence-and-judgment conversations with four legitimate outcomes and explicit return paths

G1

Worth Exploring?

After Stage 0: Initiation

Key Criteria

  • Credible signal and strategic relevance
  • Known constraints and initial assumptions
  • Agreed Discovery Charter
  • Evidence proportionate to the risk of proceeding

Primary JPs

Possible Outcomes

Proceed Iterate Pivot Stop
G2

Worth Solving?

After Stage 1: Problem Discovery

Key Criteria

  • Defined segment and validated job
  • Problem evidence is decision-relevant
  • Underserved-need signal interpreted with qualitative evidence and context
  • Scope clearly defined
  • Evidence proportionate to solution-investment risk

Primary JPs

Possible Outcomes

Proceed Iterate Pivot Stop
G3

Ready to Test?

After Stage 2: Solution Design

Key Criteria

  • Distinct solution options and reasoned selection
  • Critical assumptions and risks identified
  • Acceptance criteria and experience intent defined
  • Least expensive, least risky prototype capable of testing the uncertainty
  • Triggered governance risks escalated

Primary JPs

Possible Outcomes

Proceed Iterate Pivot Stop
G4

Confident to Build?

After Stage 3: Validation

Key Criteria

  • Decision-relevant D/U/F/V and other required evidence
  • Confidence Profile proportionate to decision risk
  • Material gaps, contradictions, residual risks, and dissent explicit
  • Validated Build Boundary and conditions defined
  • AI Use Record and prototype-promotion controls complete where applicable

Primary JPs

Possible Outcomes

Proceed Iterate 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.