What do you think?
Rate this book
Fit for Purpose: How Modern Businesses Find, Satisfy, & Keep Customers
From the best-selling author of Kanban: Successful Evolutionary Change for Your Technology Business , David J Anderson, together with Alexei Zheglov, teaches you how to answer these questions and more. . . . How do you know whether a change is an improvement? When is an improvement a step too far? When might you be overserving your market? How do you create the right metrics to catalyze improvements? How can you use your frontline staff to sense your market needs? How can you get beyond Net Promoter Score with Fitness Box Score? Through many highly accessible business examples you’ll learn how to apply the pragmatic, actionable guidance of the Fit-for-Purpose Framework. You will be able to select market segments that align to your strategy, design products and services that align to customer expectations, and take actions to amplify successful markets and switch off unsuccessful ones. This book will help you find new customers in new market segments, better satisfy your existing customers, and keep them all coming back for more. This second edition of Fit for Purpose , newly revised in 2018, is for executives, strategic planners, product managers, product planners, portfolio managers, service designers, service delivery managers, and anyone who wants to understand better how to manage for long-term survival and profitability in the complex and volatile markets of the 21st Century.
324 pages, Paperback
Published December 12, 2018
42 people are currently reading
267 people want to read
About the author
David J. Anderson
33 books64 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
David is an innovator in management thinking for 21st Century businesses. Author and pioneer of the Kanban Method he has more than 30 years’ experience working in the high-technology industry. David previously worked at IBM, Sprint, Motorola, and Microsoft where he developed the Kanban Method to greatly improving business outcomes on an enterprise-scale.
Originator of the Kanban Method, and co-creator of the Kanban Maturity Model, the Fit-for-Purpose Framework, and Enterprise Services Planning. David is a global leader in management training and leadership development for professional services, and intangible goods industries.
He is the author of 7 leading books for modern business with the most renowned being published in 2010 “KANBAN: Successful Evolutionary Change for Your Technology Business” which is in the top 5 best-selling Agile books of all time.
David also founded Kanban University, which includes over 400 accredited trainers and consultants. In addition, he created multiple global Kanban conferences and is the Chairman of the David J. Anderson School of Management which provides training in 21st-century business practices for enterprise agility, business resilience, and organizational maturity.
The group of companies founded by David is held within Mauvius Group Inc. This group of companies is focused on improving the quality of management, leadership, and decision making for 21st-century businesses.
David is an innovator in management thinking for 21st Century businesses. Author and pioneer of the Kanban Method he has more than 30 years’ experience working in the high-technology industry. David previously worked at IBM, Sprint, Motorola, and Microsoft where he developed the Kanban Method to greatly improving business outcomes on an enterprise-scale.
Originator of the Kanban Method, and co-creator of the Kanban Maturity Model, the Fit-for-Purpose Framework, and Enterprise Services Planning. David is a global leader in management training and leadership development for professional services, and intangible goods industries.
He is the author of 7 leading books for modern business with the most renowned being published in 2010 “KANBAN: Successful Evolutionary Change for Your Technology Business” which is in the top 5 best-selling Agile books of all time.
David also founded Kanban University, which includes over 400 accredited trainers and consultants. In addition, he created multiple global Kanban conferences and is the Chairman of the David J. Anderson School of Management which provides training in 21st-century business practices for enterprise agility, business resilience, and organizational maturity.
The group of companies founded by David is held within Mauvius Group Inc. This group of companies is focused on improving the quality of management, leadership, and decision making for 21st-century businesses.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 29, 2017
In today's world tons of information is available to you via different means and channels. Hundreds, if not thousands, books on innovation, management approaches, leadership. With all noise, a book of David is Alexei is a breath of fresh air. Rare book, these says, definitely worth reading. I had a pleasure to preview pre-published galley and was stunned by it. Great mix of engaging stories from different business domains to illustrate points authors are making. These examples via narrative make it easy to consume concepts which are fundamental and important.
I was exposed to some of the ideas from the book in the past by collaborating with David and Alexei during conferences and other means, but having it in a book will make it available in one place as a solid consistent story and make it much easier to access for a wider audience.
I was exposed to some of the ideas from the book in the past by collaborating with David and Alexei during conferences and other means, but having it in a book will make it available in one place as a solid consistent story and make it much easier to access for a wider audience.
November 30, 2017
The underlying concept is great, however I cannot give more than 3 stars as I think they could have written it in half the pages. Last part of the book comparing to other models is not very useful and the first part I summarized for mysef in 10 pages. So, service design 8, service implementation 6, service delivery 5 :)
September 10, 2019
Excelente leitura. Recomendo para quem deseja aprender sobre segmentação de mercado e ainda design, implementação e entrega de produtos e serviços que atendem aos propósitos de seus clientes (em cada segmento)
January 3, 2019
Great work from David and Alexei!
The book presents complex concepts in a simple way, using storytelling to engage the reader.
Another aspect that is worth mentioning is that there is a summary at the end every chapter, which made it easier to wrap up the content.
Recommended to people looking for a pragmatic approach to improve their understanding about the customer base.
As a Kanban practitioner, I have also found it useful as a first step into product management.
The book presents complex concepts in a simple way, using storytelling to engage the reader.
Another aspect that is worth mentioning is that there is a summary at the end every chapter, which made it easier to wrap up the content.
Recommended to people looking for a pragmatic approach to improve their understanding about the customer base.
As a Kanban practitioner, I have also found it useful as a first step into product management.
January 26, 2018
D.A's "Kanban" has been groudbreaking for me - it has changed the perspectives I use to perceive both professional & personal life, becoming a foundation of my personal version of "Getting Shit Done" attitude. For that I will always be very grateful. Nevertheless, even all my sympathy to D.A. doesn't change the fact that "Fit for Purpose" is at most an average book :(
On the 'pros' side: it's very approachable - straightforward & clear message, very simple examples & cases, it's a smooth fly to get through it. What else? The key message "fit for purpose", criticism of vanity metrics, etc. - it's all very true, very correct, but ...
(yes, I'm gracefully hopping to the 'cons' part now) ... it's not really a material for full book. Maybe a brochure, series of blog posts, but after 25% I had an impression authors have nothing new to tell me, they kept running around the very same idea, without progressing anywhere (not like there was much field for a progress anyway). This got ever worse around ~60%. If the 2nd part of the book disappeared, I'm not sure if anyone would notice. This "overbloat" is sometimes a bit grotesque - authors keep promoting "Fit-for-purpose" "framework", but frankly ... well, I have a bit different definition of what is framework :) Another thing is that authors already announced 2 following books in the series - it doesn't sound good ...
2.5-3 stars, just because the topics is so important.
On the 'pros' side: it's very approachable - straightforward & clear message, very simple examples & cases, it's a smooth fly to get through it. What else? The key message "fit for purpose", criticism of vanity metrics, etc. - it's all very true, very correct, but ...
(yes, I'm gracefully hopping to the 'cons' part now) ... it's not really a material for full book. Maybe a brochure, series of blog posts, but after 25% I had an impression authors have nothing new to tell me, they kept running around the very same idea, without progressing anywhere (not like there was much field for a progress anyway). This got ever worse around ~60%. If the 2nd part of the book disappeared, I'm not sure if anyone would notice. This "overbloat" is sometimes a bit grotesque - authors keep promoting "Fit-for-purpose" "framework", but frankly ... well, I have a bit different definition of what is framework :) Another thing is that authors already announced 2 following books in the series - it doesn't sound good ...
2.5-3 stars, just because the topics is so important.
May 26, 2018
As an Agile coach I'm involved with companies that are changing and going through re-orgs in order to react better to an ever-changing market. I know the author as the creator of the modern-day Kanban methodology and up until now I didn't know that his focus of the business side was so in-depth.
This is "Book I" of an upcoming trilogy dedicated to the idea of evolutionary companies and businesses, how they react, adapt and evolve.
This book presents the cornerstone of this trilogy as the Fit for Purpose Framework (F4P) which is, at its core, an improved way to approach and track customer needs which leads to an evolutionary way of setting business strategies.
Since I'm working with clients that track NPS as "one metric to rule them all" I found it refreshing to understand what NPS really is, what are its shortcomings and how the F4P builds upon NPS and strengthens its weak points.
There are plenty of examples from many different industries, as a professional with a background in the software industry, I found it really helpful because it adds a broader, business and goal-oriented dimension to something that usually is treated just as a "different way of working" as Agile or other ways to organise companies.
Some of the things that set this book apart from many other business books is the really honest take on the possible shortcomings of the F4P framework and, also, how this framework can integrate with other approaches (Mission Control, Balanced Scorecard, Lean Startup, Personas, and so on).
I'm looking forward to read also Book II, "Built to last" (the topics will be about market shifts and changes in customers' needs) and Book III, "First Who, then Why" (about companies' identities and culture) of this trilogy.
This is "Book I" of an upcoming trilogy dedicated to the idea of evolutionary companies and businesses, how they react, adapt and evolve.
This book presents the cornerstone of this trilogy as the Fit for Purpose Framework (F4P) which is, at its core, an improved way to approach and track customer needs which leads to an evolutionary way of setting business strategies.
Since I'm working with clients that track NPS as "one metric to rule them all" I found it refreshing to understand what NPS really is, what are its shortcomings and how the F4P builds upon NPS and strengthens its weak points.
There are plenty of examples from many different industries, as a professional with a background in the software industry, I found it really helpful because it adds a broader, business and goal-oriented dimension to something that usually is treated just as a "different way of working" as Agile or other ways to organise companies.
Some of the things that set this book apart from many other business books is the really honest take on the possible shortcomings of the F4P framework and, also, how this framework can integrate with other approaches (Mission Control, Balanced Scorecard, Lean Startup, Personas, and so on).
I'm looking forward to read also Book II, "Built to last" (the topics will be about market shifts and changes in customers' needs) and Book III, "First Who, then Why" (about companies' identities and culture) of this trilogy.
June 9, 2021
El libro presenta el Marco de trabajo Fit 4 Purpose y te introduce a lo largo de cuatro bloques en una serie de conceptos complejos mediante casos prácticos y Storytelling.
En sí aporta una visión nueva a las compañías y todos los miembros involucrados en el desarrollo de productos dentro de la misma.
David J Anderson, uno de los coautores, también conocido por desarrollar el Método Kanban moderno da la impresión que te quiere vender una idea muy buena con el libro pero que se queda en agua de borrajas. A mí personalmente del libro me sobran varios capítulos que vienen a darle la vuelta a la tortilla una y otra vez, pudiendo ser completamente prescindibles. Otra gran parte del libro parece más de marketing de sus productos y su negocio que otra cosa.
La estructura del libro es amena, cada capítulo abarca una serie de conceptos introducidos en un orden correcto que se desarrollan a lo largo del libro. De hecho hay ejemplos a los que se recurren durante todo el libro.
Desde mi punto de vista algunos contras del libro son: está sólo en inglés, sólo en formato PDF y algunas partes parece que están sólo de relleno.
En sí aporta una visión nueva a las compañías y todos los miembros involucrados en el desarrollo de productos dentro de la misma.
David J Anderson, uno de los coautores, también conocido por desarrollar el Método Kanban moderno da la impresión que te quiere vender una idea muy buena con el libro pero que se queda en agua de borrajas. A mí personalmente del libro me sobran varios capítulos que vienen a darle la vuelta a la tortilla una y otra vez, pudiendo ser completamente prescindibles. Otra gran parte del libro parece más de marketing de sus productos y su negocio que otra cosa.
La estructura del libro es amena, cada capítulo abarca una serie de conceptos introducidos en un orden correcto que se desarrollan a lo largo del libro. De hecho hay ejemplos a los que se recurren durante todo el libro.
Desde mi punto de vista algunos contras del libro son: está sólo en inglés, sólo en formato PDF y algunas partes parece que están sólo de relleno.
August 5, 2018
The book brings essential concepts about the value of understating customer purpose based on product or service design, implementation, and delivery (lead time).
Every company should monitor key performance indicators and avoid to overvalue vanity metrics. The health of the business has to be guided by actionable data.
Each product or service has different types of customers, and if you want to deliver a purpose solution, you might validate the thresholds of criterions like duration, accuracy, precision and functional indicators.
At the end of the book, the authors tried to relate the concept (fit for purpose) with other business tools like The Lean Startup, Balanced Scorecard, and Goal-Directed.
In general, the book's content is useful because make you consider about driven the business based on actionable metrics, reinforce the importance of meeting clients and comprehend their needs and how the product or service supply them.
I can't discern how different the framework proposed by the authors is from concepts like Customer Success and OKRs.
Every company should monitor key performance indicators and avoid to overvalue vanity metrics. The health of the business has to be guided by actionable data.
Each product or service has different types of customers, and if you want to deliver a purpose solution, you might validate the thresholds of criterions like duration, accuracy, precision and functional indicators.
At the end of the book, the authors tried to relate the concept (fit for purpose) with other business tools like The Lean Startup, Balanced Scorecard, and Goal-Directed.
In general, the book's content is useful because make you consider about driven the business based on actionable metrics, reinforce the importance of meeting clients and comprehend their needs and how the product or service supply them.
I can't discern how different the framework proposed by the authors is from concepts like Customer Success and OKRs.
November 23, 2017
As an organizational coach at a large enterprise I am expected to bring the most effective modern thinking tools and practices to the lines of business, executives, and teams that I advise. You will find 'Fit for Purpose' an insightful read that shines in its ability to create a deep understanding of its key ideas through storytelling based on real life case studies from well known companies as well as examples from the authors' own personal experiences building a successful business in a highly competitive and uncertain market environment. I strongly recommend 'Fit for Purpose' as required reading for anyone who is held, or personally holds themselves, to the highest standard of possessing and propagating proven expert knowledge that is both extremely relatable and immediately useful.
January 31, 2018
This is a good book for anyone working with business and product strategy, design, delivery and implementation. The Fit for purpose "framework" is tangible and useful tool to align a modern organisation to the needs of the customer, in order to be profitable and survive over time. David and Alex describe and explain it with a lot of stories based on real life examples.
I have already tried the F4P Box Score methods and can testify that I did get some very useful results from it.
To make this a 5 I would have liked the examples to be more explicit in some cases and as it is a little dry somewhere it isn't the litterary experience I would need to give it the perfect score.
I have already tried the F4P Box Score methods and can testify that I did get some very useful results from it.
To make this a 5 I would have liked the examples to be more explicit in some cases and as it is a little dry somewhere it isn't the litterary experience I would need to give it the perfect score.
November 13, 2017
A good collection of stories from different markets serve to describe how to assess if a product or service is fit for purpose. The discussion traverses KPIs, metrics, narratives and classes of service, and connects F4P Cards and Box Score with OODA loop, lean startup, personas, NPS and Balanced Scorecard.
There is, however, an oversimplification in the discussion about microservices and platforms.
There is, however, an oversimplification in the discussion about microservices and platforms.
February 16, 2020
Fit-for-purpose framework is a very interesting approach to turning business KPI to a more human centric metrics and how we need to understand our clients purpose and build segment accordingly. However the book rambles on for too long and the more practical and helpful examples are on the final chapters, i would recommend reading the first part to get a hang of the framework but to me the value is in the final three chapters.
August 24, 2020
This is a very important book for every professional in actual epoch, not only for kanban practitioners, but for product manager, CEOs and product owners, becouse it gives you a different perspective of the value the we can give to customer,s teaching about different level of services and their different thresholds with Fit For Purpose.
February 15, 2018
A very good approach to real business value metrics and a good improvent over NPS. The F4P Framework and all the examples makes it worth reading.
By the other hand, the smooth way that example narrative adds to the reading, turns it a too much redundant book. Quite too long.
By the other hand, the smooth way that example narrative adds to the reading, turns it a too much redundant book. Quite too long.
April 15, 2019
Highly recommended reading for product managers
Interesting perspective on how to identify customer segments and manage them accordingly. Also, good comparison and contrast with existing practices, would have appreciated more concrete examples on okrs.
Interesting perspective on how to identify customer segments and manage them accordingly. Also, good comparison and contrast with existing practices, would have appreciated more concrete examples on okrs.
January 2, 2020
Full of good advices and observations, a few practices that may shine, but envoloped inside a boring text, full o examples too much detailed and that got me tired a few times over two years of reading.
July 6, 2023
Instructive, meaningful, but intricate. In order to become understandable it requires simplification. Not for every mind. The most important conclusion about this book is that it is suggestive, so that be prepared :)
January 5, 2023
O livro é bastante fácil de ler, o autor criou uma proposta de pesquisa acionável para as empresas melhorarem seus produtos. Vale a leitura.
February 7, 2022
I'm a software engineering manager. The main idea of the book is good, but it's too wordy, I would prefer just to have read an article.
May 14, 2021
This book is outdated. It’s just one more framework based in find the why people buy you product. Too long.
December 4, 2021
The book is a bit outdated and the framework can fit into one chapter with a use case in another chapter and that's it.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews