Reading Notes
Just Enough Research is a reminder that research is not a department. It is a way to stop guessing.
The book is valuable for product engineering because engineers are often close to implementation risk but far from customer evidence. Without research, teams can build technically correct systems for misunderstood problems.
Useful Ideas
Research Should Answer Decisions
Good research is not just collecting opinions. It should make a decision less risky. The question is not "what can we ask users?" but "what do we need to know before choosing?"
Small Research Is Still Research
Not every team needs a large study. Interviews, observation, support-ticket review, usability tests, and lightweight surveys can all expose assumptions if the team is honest about what each method can and cannot prove.
Evidence Beats Internal Confidence
Product teams are good at creating narratives. Research is useful because it interrupts those narratives with actual behavior, constraints, vocabulary, and priorities from the people affected by the product.
Why I Keep It Nearby
This book is a good antidote to building from vibes. It gives enough structure to ask better questions without turning research into a heavy process that teams avoid.
Get the Book
- Mule Books: Just Enough Research