unipro solutions GmbH & Co. KG

With 30+ years global experience in marketing, product management, and skills development I developed what I call Customer Progress Design (CPD). CPD is a method for identifying how people struggle for progress and developing targeted solution concepts. 

As part of a 5 steps process, tailor-made market development concepts are created. CPD is based on the innovative Jobs to Be Done theory and The Wheel of Progress® canvas that I co-developed. 

My vision is to make effective customer research accessible for organizations of all sizes with the purpose to help people improve their lives.

Founder & Managing Director

BERLIN STARTUP SCHOOL

Mentor/Coach

RheinMain University of Applied Sciences

Lecturing Business School Master Students on JTBD and Customer Progress Design method.

Guest Lecturer

CXM@MSU at Michigan State University

Roundtable lead - Understanding the Customer and Employee Action team

Self-employed

Author, speaker, trainer, coach | Enabling organizations apply Jobs to Be Done (JTBD) and other value-generating frameworks | SME for the German translations of Competing Against Luck | SME for the German translation of The Startup Way | German JTBD website jtbd.de | Co-developer of The Wheel of Progress®|

Author / Speaker / Trainer / Coach

DOOR Training & Consulting

End-to-end management of global training licenses, including sales, marketing, and operations.

Director Product Management

Business Education International (BEI) Mainz

Entrepreneur. Established and managed regional training center.

Manager Regional Training Center

Self-Employed

In transition

Microsoft Corp.

Curriculum Architect for marketing training programs, e.g. product management, global marketing,  market research, voice of the customer, facilitation skills, etc.

Sr. Marketing Manager Marketing Professional Development

Management of skills product portfolio consisting training, certification, e-Learning, skills assessments, and books for SQL Server 2005.

Sr. Audience Product Manager Microsoft Learning

Management of SQL Server and Exchange skills certification programs (MCDBA, MCSE: Messaging).

Sr. Product Manager Database & Messaging Certifications

Management of database and messaging learning product portfolios.

Product Manager for Database & Messaging Learning Portfolios

Managed developer certification programs (MCAD, MCSD for .NET)

Product Manager for Developer Certifications

Managed worldwide marketing programs (branding, benefits, promotions, research) for MCSE, MCSD, MCDBA, MCP certifications.

Marketing Manager, Microsoft Certified Professional Program

Launch and marketing management of MCP program in Germany.  Collaboration with Microsoft subs at EMEA level.

Product Manager Microsoft Certified Professional Program

Led development and launch of e-support options (CompuServe, BTX), and support partner program.

Group Supervisor Service Planning/Service Marketing, Product Support Services

Managed MS OnLine, an electronic support service, and developed new service offerings (product features, prices, contracts).

Administration Assistant Microsoft OnLine

Revolutionizing strategy development.

With 30+ years global experience in marketing, product management, and skills development I developed what I call Customer Progress Design (CPD). CPD is a method for identifying how people struggle for progress and developing targeted solution concepts. As part of a 5 steps process, tailor-made market development concepts are created. CPD is based on the innovative Jobs to Be Done theory and The Wheel of Progress® canvas that I co-developed. My vision is to make effective customer research accessible for organizations of all sizes with the purpose to help people improve their lives.

Specialties: 
- Customer Progress Design using Jobs to Be Done and The Wheel of Progress®
- Lean Startup
- Business model & value proposition development


This picture was taken 6 years ago.

Few people know that I had the honor of serving as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for the German translations of Competing Against Luck by Harvard Business School Professor 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗻, 𝗧𝗲𝗱𝗱𝘆 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹, Karen Dillon, and David Duncan and The Startup Way by Eric Ries. 

I learned a lot during this important job and had to deeply internalize the content: The translation must reflect the meaning, not just the words, to make sense to German readers.

Both books have strongly influenced me in the development of my consulting practice. The contents complement each other very well. Competing Against Luck provides the foundation for 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 (#jtbd) and The Startup Way for 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘆 (#leanstartup).

Mikko Mannila, Börsenmedien AG, Thomas Ammon

Eckhart Boehme

Sunday afternoon. In the flow of writing my chapter for an upcoming book on Customer Experience (#CX), to be published by one of the leading experts and contributed to by many CX thought leaders, many of whom I had the pleasure to meet in person.

I look forward to the final product.

Mikko Mannila
CXM@MSU

📣 I am excited to share the rollout of the "Mastering Jobs to Be Done with The Wheel of Progress" workshop for the APAC time zone. 📣

➡️ gain essential skills to uncover your target audience's true needs, including the art of conducting insightful interviews.
➡️ learn how to identify Jobs to Be Done (JTBDs) and their contextual factors. 
➡️ analyze behavioral forces through targeted audience interviews.

Learn how to lead customer discovery interviews with confidence. You will be applying the Jobs to Be Done (JTBD) approach, popularized by HBS professor Clayton Christensen, using the powerful The Wheel of Progress® (WoP) canvas.

What will participants get?
✅ 8 hours hands-on course over 4 days
✅ The Wheel of Progress Canvas Mural board
✅ The Wheel of Progress Manual (PDF)
✅ The Wheel of Progress Interview Cards (PDF)
✅ Presentation slides (PDF)
✅ Certificate of attendance

Seats are limited.

See the link to course registration in the comments.

Mikko Mannila
Irene Liakos, Michelle Lia, Aileen Day, CCXP

#jtbd #customerresearch #customerdiscovery# wheelofprogress

Dear Southern Hemisphere, 
This is your sign to register now for one of my favourite #CX thought leaders and doer's, Eckhart Boehme courses, Mastering Jobs to be Done (JTBD).

Eckart is generously sharing his expertise and knowledge in helping CX leaders, entrepreneurs, consultants and the like to effectively discover what your customers need from your organisation. Take the guessing and the misinterpretation of customer needs out of the equation. Save your budget for investing in solutions as you learn to use the purpose-built discovery tools such as the 'Wheel of Progress'. 

The course is broken down into 4 x short segments, perfect for those in the #APAC time zone and is very generously priced given the copious value you'll receive from Eckhart's teachings.

Be sure to check out the link: https://lnkd.in/gbmbuHtd and sign-up ASAP as seats are limited.

Aileen Day, CCXP

#CXLearning #CXDiscovery #Loyalty #JTBD #WoP #CustomerResearch

Customer-centric strategy development is a crucial process, but who should be in the driver's seat at each phase?  How do you ensure the entire organization is aligned with the customer around their jobs-to-be-done?

Mikko Mannila and I think, the "functional lead" is like the driver of the strat dev bus, taking turns on a long journey. Here is an illustration using the Customer Progress Design® (CPD) process. 

Are you curious about the other roles in this process? Let's explore together! 

#customercentric #strategydevelopment #leadership #teamwork 

📣 I am excited to share the rollout of the "Mastering Jobs to Be Done with The Wheel of Progress" workshop for the 𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗔 time zone. 📣

➡️ gain essential skills to uncover your target audience's true needs, including the art of conducting insightful interviews.
➡️ learn how to identify Jobs to Be Done (JTBDs) and their contextual factors. 
➡️ analyze behavioral forces through targeted audience interviews.

Learn how to lead customer discovery interviews with confidence. You will be applying the Jobs to Be Done (JTBD) approach, popularized by HBS professor Clayton Christensen, using the powerful The Wheel of Progress® (WoP) canvas.

What will participants get?
✅ 8 hours hands-on course over 4 days
✅ The Wheel of Progress Canvas Mural board
✅ The Wheel of Progress Manual (PDF)
✅ The Wheel of Progress Interview Cards (PDF)
✅ Course slides (PDF)
✅ Certificate of attendance

Seats are limited.

See the link to course registration in the comments.

Mikko Mannila
Florian Hameister, Tom van Lokven, Stefan Hoch, Thoralf J. Klatt 🇺🇳, Frederic Fuchs, Dennis Albert, Craig Hiles, Svyatoslav Biryulin, Lena S., Thomas Aschenbrenner, Benedikt Stemmildt 👨🏼‍💻Dr. Theodora ZIAMOU, Dr. Christian Stumpf, Paul Herwarth von Bittenfeld, Florian Schneider, Philipp Jordan

Making seniors feel at home, loved and respected and motivate them to get well when they are in care are jobs to be done #jtbd relatives are looking for. This is an example of an outstanding job execution. I witness it today when visiting my father-in-law: Super friendly and helpful nurses, a homy environment, a motivating walking path, and with many memory-sparking images.

Mikko Mannila

How the Jobs to Be Done approach demystifies "customer needs".

The Jobs to Be Done (#JTBD) approach provides a powerful lens through which to understand and address customer needs. Rather than focusing solely on products, customer profiles or data correlations, JTBD shifts the spotlight to the fundamental reason why customers “hire” products or services: to get a specific job done. 

➡️ Job-Centric Perspective: When customers buy a product, they are essentially hiring it to perform a job. Whether it’s a simple task like passing the time or a significant life change like finding a more fulfilling career, the underlying job is what matters.
By identifying these jobs, companies gain #clarity on what customers truly seek to accomplish. This perspective transcends features and functions, revealing the core #purpose behind each purchase.

➡️ Multifaceted Jobs: Customer"jobs" are not one-dimensional; they encompass more than #functional requirements. They have #social and #emotional dimensions.
For instance, a customer hiring a cargo bike isn’t just getting from a to b; they’re seeking to ease transportation hassles, avoiding the pain of finding parking, and to better handling their family's daily routines. Understanding these dimensions helps create more meaningful solutions.

➡️ #Circumstances Matter Most: Context matters. The circumstances in which customers attempt to do a job are critical.
Consider relatives trying to find a care solution for their elderly loved one quickly. Care providers, that realize that relatives are often under a lot of time pressure, e. g. after their loved one was unexpectedly released from the hospital, provide a quick solution, eventhough it might only be temporary, providing peace of mind for everyone involved. JTBD emphasizes understanding the context in which customers operate—their struggles, aspirations, and constraints.

➡️ #Innovation Aligned with Needs: Successful innovation lies in addressing poorly performed jobs in customers’ lives.
Rather than guessing what customers want, companies can design products, experiences, and processes around these specific jobs.
JTBD provides a roadmap for creating offerings that resonate with real-world needs.

➡️ Breaking the Hit-or-Miss Cycle: Despite vast knowledge about customers, innovation processes often fall short. JTBD offers a way out.

By focusing on the job, companies can move beyond surface-level solutions and create meaningful impact. 

In summary, the Jobs to Be Done approach demystifies customer needs by uncovering the true motivations behind their choices. It shifts the conversation from features to purpose, ultimately leading to more successful and customer-centric innovations and communications.

Mikko Mannila

"I didn’t expect to spend 3 hours this afternoon researching your work. 
But it’s been time well spent. I still have more to watch."

I am excited to share more than 12 hours of free video and audio content:

➡️ Educational videos
➡️ Product demos
➡️ Podcasts

Languages: English and German

Check it out at: https://lnkd.in/eaTZ8x2H

Mikko Mannila

unipro-solutions.com • 1 min read

Media Library

Stuff that makes you go wow! 

Round 15 - Weekly Opinions & Wonders (WOW) - my roundup of opinions, thoughts, tips and highlights that I found helpful and insightful

Karri Saarinen - How design practices differ between b2b vs b2c design
https://lnkd.in/gpwnJ4Mi

Jason Clauss - The ‘historigraph’ data visualisation tool
https://lnkd.in/gXjuXFVb

Alex M H Smith - The No Bullsh*t Strategy Manifesto
https://lnkd.in/gjCb2E9R

Arnav Bhatnagar - The Wheel of Progress* & the Synthetic analysis of customers 
https://lnkd.in/gJggcdTw

*For more interest in the ‘Wheel of progress’ see its creators Eckhart Boehme and Peter Rochel 

#Datavisualization #strategy #JTBD #design #GenAI #Progress #synthesis #WoW


Customer-centric strategy development is a crucial process, but who should be in the driver's seat at each phase? 

Mikko Mannila and I think, the "functional lead" is like the driver of the strat dev bus, taking turns on a long journey. Here is an illustration using the Customer Progress Design® process. 

Are you curious about the other roles in this process? Let's explore together! 

#customercentric #strategydevelopment #leadership #teamwork 

How the Jobs to Be Done approach demystifies "customer needs".

The Jobs to Be Done (#JTBD) approach provides a powerful lens through which to understand and address customer needs. Rather than focusing solely on products, customer profiles or data correlations, JTBD shifts the spotlight to the fundamental reason why customers “hire” products or services: to get a specific job done. 

➡️ Job-Centric Perspective: When customers buy a product, they are essentially hiring it to perform a job. Whether it’s a simple task like passing the time or a significant life change like finding a more fulfilling career, the underlying job is what matters.
By identifying these jobs, companies gain #clarity on what customers truly seek to accomplish. This perspective transcends features and functions, revealing the core #purpose behind each purchase.

➡️ Multifaceted Jobs: Customer"jobs" are not one-dimensional; they encompass more than f#unctional requirements. They have #social and #emotional dimensions.
For instance, a customer hiring a cargo bike isn’t just getting from a to b; they’re seeking to ease transportation hassles, avoiding the pain of finding parking, and to better handling their family's daily routines. Understanding these dimensions helps create more meaningful solutions.

➡️ #Circumstances Matter Most: Context matters. The circumstances in which customers attempt to do a job are critical.
Consider relatives trying to find a care solution for their elderly loved one quickly. Care providers, hat realize that relatives are often under a lot of time pressure, e. g. after their loved one was unexpectedly released from the hospital, provide a quick solution, eventhough it might only be temporary, providing peace of mind for everyone involved. JTBD emphasizes understanding the context in which customers operate—their struggles, aspirations, and constraints.

➡️ #Innovation Aligned with Needs: Successful innovation lies in addressing poorly performed jobs in customers’ lives.
Rather than guessing what customers want, companies can design products, experiences, and processes around these specific jobs.
JTBD provides a roadmap for creating offerings that resonate with real-world needs.

➡️ Breaking the Hit-or-Miss Cycle:Despite vast knowledge about customers, innovation processes often fall short. JTBD offers a way out.

By focusing on the job, companies can move beyond surface-level solutions and create meaningful impact. 

In summary, the Jobs to Be Done approach demystifies customer needs by uncovering the true motivations behind their choices. It shifts the conversation from features to purpose, ultimately leading to more successful and customer-centric innovations and communications.

Mikko Mannila

📣 I am excited to share the rollout of the "Mastering Jobs to Be Done with The Wheel of Progress" workshop for the 𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗔 time zone. 📣

➡️ gain essential skills to uncover your target audience's true needs, including the art of conducting insightful interviews.
➡️ learn how to identify Jobs to Be Done (JTBDs) and their contextual factors. 
➡️ analyze behavioral forces through targeted audience interviews.

Learn how to lead customer discovery interviews with confidence. You will be applying the Jobs to Be Done (JTBD) approach, popularized by HBS professor Clayton Christensen, using the powerful The Wheel of Progress® (WoP) canvas.

What will participants get?
✅ 8 hours hands-on course over 4 days
✅ The Wheel of Progress Canvas Mural board
✅ The Wheel of Progress Manual (PDF)
✅ The Wheel of Progress Interview Cards (PDF)
✅ Course slides (PDF)
✅ Certificate of attendance

Seats are limited.

See the link to course registration in the comments.

Mikko Mannila
Florian Hameister, Tom van Lokven, Stefan Hoch, Thoralf J. Klatt 🇺🇳, Frederic Fuchs, Dennis Albert, Craig Hiles, Svyatoslav Biryulin, Lena Stamenković, Thomas Aschenbrenner, Benedikt Stemmildt 👨🏼‍💻Dr. Theodora ZIAMOU, Dr. Christian Stumpf, Paul Herwarth von Bittenfeld, Florian Schneider, Philipp Jordan

Liebes Netzwerk!!

Habt ihr eine spannende Stelle oder Opportunity im Bereich Go2Market oder Produktmanagement anzubieten? 
Eine gute Freundin (derzeit USA) sucht eine neue Herausforderung in Europa. Sie ist aktuell technische Führungskraft mit umfassender Erfahrung im Bereich Operations, zweisprachig (englisch und deutsch) und mit mehr als 14 Jahre Erfahrung in der Leitung eines Softwareunternehmens (CMS) in den USA ausgestattet. Expertise vor allem in Go2Market, Produktmanagement, P&L-Management, Customer Success.

Bitte PN an mich!
Gerne teilen, danke!

#recruitment 

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