Root Cause Analysis
Why did the project manager get fired? They couldn't get to the root cause of all the delays!
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Why did the project manager get fired? They couldn't get to the root cause of all the delays!
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Demonstrates your ability to critically analyze problems
Identify underlying causes and develop effective solutions
During a project's life cycle, various issues or challenges may arise, and the interviewer wants to assess your problem-solving skills and how you approach these situations.
Start by collecting information about the problem’s nature and its extent
Formulate hypotheses on potential causes. Consider both internal and external factors.
Sometimes, based on the problem's nature, the interviewer may prompt you to start with a conversion funnel (e.g. when number of active users have dropped for a product)
Once your hypothesis is proven right, narrow down to a root cause (ask additional questions if needed).
Finally, suggest some solutions (new features, improvements, etc.)
Learn more about the framework here:
Blog:
Video: (We'll take a slightly different approach, make sure to attend the session!)
Cracking the PM Interview (Gayle L. McDowell | Jackie Bavaro)
The Product Manager Interview (Lewis C Lin with Teng Lu) - Chapter 17
By following these steps, you can effectively handle root cause analysis questions in a project management interview, demonstrating your ability to identify and address underlying issues systematically.