Discovering the Core Jobs of an Industry
Another great use for AI is to help you develop categories. In this case industries, sectors, and subsectors. Once I had built that catalog, I had a map I could navigate to investigate various solution-oriented categories to reverse engineer back to the jobs that run through them.
Everyone reading this is either working in an industry, or investigating an industry. This will be a first step to understanding both vertical jobs, and horizontal jobs (those that span industries).
The Prompt
Again, this is one my simpler prompts. It could be even simpler by using an example for the format instead of relying on instructions. Since I showed that to you in the last section, I’ll leave that change to you so you get some practice.
Find the Job(s) within an Industry | Sector | Subsector
I am a heavy user of variables. This allows me to reuse the prompt with different inputs. I wrap the variable within the prompt in double curly brackets. The variables being used in this prompt are basic:
- {{end user}} - by providing this instruction, we are giving the AI context as to who is performing the job.
- {{industry}}: Input your industry here. I highly recommend generating a hierarchical catalog of your industry, it’s sectors, and the subsectors for each sector. This will give you consistency.
- {{sector}}: If you are researching a subsector, use the sector as the industry.
Below I’m going to itemize the points I use in the prompt and explain them. Then I’ll give you a cut and paste version since I don’t generally write them in separate lines
BEGIN!
Act as a(n) {{end user}} who works in the {{industry}} industry with a specialty focus in the {{sector}} sector.
Assigning Roles: this is a technique that can be used style the output or improve accuracy. In this case, I’m injecting the {{end user}} as a variable as well as the {{industry}} and the {{sector}}. So, “Act as an actuary who works in the Health Insurance industry with a specialty focus in the Managed Care sector”. In this case Health Insurance is sector within the Healthcare industry.
I do not want to know what people, or things, are doing in the industry and/or sector. I want to know what they could be ultimately trying to accomplish in the industry. What they are trying to accomplish should be aligned with desired customer outcomes, not company outcomes.
Information: Once again I’m explaining that we don’t want the what we want to know the why.
If the industry is healthcare, and the sector is Hospitals, I don’t want to know that they “process patients.” I want to know that the are “offering emergency services.”
If the industry is construction I don't want to know that they are fastening two pieces of wood together, I want to know what they are trying to build.
If the industry is a consulting, I don't want to know that they are doing projects, I want to know that they are helping a client develop a growth strategy.
Information / Examples: basic instructions with examples to help the AI understand how to approach the problem
We're going to call what they are trying to accomplish "Jobs-to-be-Done."
Information: I do this with the hopes that one day the Internet gets JTBD correct, but unfortunately there is a lot of misinformation out there. It also makes the next reference more clear
I'd like you to generate a list of these jobs.
Instruction: this is the output I’m requesting in the prompt
These should be core to the existence of the industry and/or sector. I don’t want to know about one-offs, or ad-hoc jobs.
Information: This is why there is no “n” variable. I want it to consider core jobs just as there are a finite number of core processes any an enterprise.
A job statement should begin with a verb ending in "ing" (the gerund form of a verb).
Do not use general terms that do not have a discrete output, like "Managing" at the beginning of the job statement.
The following is a non-exhaustive list common verbs that might be used at the beginning of each job: 1. Achieving 2. Allowing 3. Confirming 4. Coordinating 5. Correcting 6. Creating 7. Demonstrating 8. Detecting 9. Determining 10. Developing 11. Discovering 12. Ensuring 13. Experiencing 14. Finding 15. Fixing 16. Getting 17. Helping 18. Identifying 19. Improving 20. Keeping 21. Learning 22. Locating 23. Maintaining 24. Making 25. Obtaining 26. Planning 27. Preparing 28. Preventing 29. Protecting 30. Providing 31. Relieving 32. Remembering 33. Removing 34. Sharing 35. Staying 36. Stopping 37. Teaching 38. Understanding 39. Updating 40. Verifying
Examples: I’m proving a list of verbs AI might consider when constructing statements. It can come up with its own as the case requires
Output as a numbered list.
Output the job name in bold.
Explain each job step-by-step after a hyphen.
Do not generate a sentence before the list.
Do not generate anything after the list.
Always output in markdown.
Formatting: in this prompt (which I have not updated, and still use) does not have an explicit formatting example. If this doesn’t work over time, reference the last product-centered prompt for the approach to incorporating that type of example
Then, create a second list of job statements that are generated from the industry {{end user}}'s perspective.
Instruction: I’m asking it to now create a list of jobs the end user / customer is trying to get done that the industry jobs are supposed to be aligned to
The reason is simple, the {{industry}} is attempting to deliver value to these {{end user}}s and we need to know what {{end user}}s are trying to accomplish.
Explanation: I’m trying to reason with the AI 🤔
End user: Industry: Sector:
Variables: the inputs are different for every prompt, but there will be a bracketed reference for each somewhere in the prompt at least once
Putting it all together
You can take the following text, paste it into ChatGPT, update the variables as desired, and then hit Enter
Act as a(n) {{end user}} who works in the {{industry}} industry with a specialty focus in the {{sector}} sector. I do not want to know what {{end user}}s are doing in the industry and/or sector. I want to know what they could be ultimately trying to accomplish in the industry given their role. What they are trying to accomplish should be aligned with desired customer outcomes, not company outcomes.
If the industry is healthcare, and the sector is Hospitals, I don’t want to know that they “process patients.” I want to know that the are “offering emergency services.”
If the industry is construction I don't want to know that they are fastening two pieces of wood together, I want to know what they are trying to build.
If the industry is a consulting, I don't want to know that they are doing projects, I want to know that they are helping a client develop a growth strategy.
We're going to call what they are trying to accomplish "Jobs-to-be-Done."
I'd like you to generate a list of these jobs that the {{end user}} is trying to get done.
These should be core to the existence of the industry and/or sector. I don’t want to know about one-offs, or ad-hoc jobs.
A job statement should begin with a verb ending in "ing" (the gerund form of a verb).
Do not use general terms that do not have a discrete output, like "Managing" at the beginning of the job statement.
The following is a non-exhaustive list common verbs that might be used at the beginning of each job:
1. Achieving
2. Allowing
3. Confirming
4. Coordinating
5. Correcting
6. Creating
7. Demonstrating
8. Detecting
9. Determining
10. Developing
11. Discovering
12. Ensuring
13. Experiencing
14. Finding
15. Fixing
16. Getting
17. Helping
18. Identifying
19. Improving
20. Keeping
21. Learning
22. Locating
23. Maintaining
24. Making
25. Obtaining
26. Planning
27. Preparing
28. Preventing
29. Protecting
30. Providing
31. Relieving
32. Remembering
33. Removing
34. Sharing
35. Staying
36. Stopping
37. Teaching
38. Understanding
39. Updating
40. Verifying
Output as a numbered list.
Output the job name in bold.
Explain each job step-by-step after a hyphen.
Do not generate a sentence before the list.
Do not generate anything after the list.
Example Format:
1. **Searing Meat** - The ability to create a caramelized crust on the exterior of a meat cut by applying high heat quickly. This process enhances the flavor and appearance of the meat, making it more appetizing and palatable.
Always output in markdown.
Then, create a second list of job statements that are generated from the industry {{end user}}'s perspective.
The reason is simple, the {{industry}} is attempting to deliver value to these {{end user}}s and we need to know what {{end user}}s are trying to accomplish.
End user:
Industry:
Sector: