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PM Case Interview Guide: Ace Like A Ceo!
PM Case Interview Guide: Ace Like A Ceo!
PM Case Interview Guide: Ace Like A Ceo!
UX Tech
PRODUCT
MANAGER
Business
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PRODUCT MANAGEMENT 101
CAREER PATHS FOLLOWED BY FAMOUS
CEOS WHO WERE ONCE PRODUCT MANAGERS
ENGINEER AT
APPLE
SUN
DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTS AT
ENGINEERING PRODUCT MANAGEMENT SILICON GRAPHICS
& EXECUTIVE ROLES AT
MICROSOFT
SOLD HIS STARTUP TO
ADOBE
CEO
CEO
PRODUCT MANAGEMENT 101
CAREER PATHS FOLLOWED BY FAMOUS
CEOS WHO WERE ONCE PRODUCT MANAGERS
ENGINEER AT MARKETING AT
GOOGLE GOOGLE
SENIOR PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
ROLE AT PRODUCT MANAGER (ADSENSE) AT
GOOGLE GOOGLE
CEO CEO
YAHOO. YOUTUBE
PRODUCT MANAGEMENT 101
COMMUNICATION UNDERSTANDING OF
SKILLS WEB DEVELOPMENT
PRIORITIZATION WRITING TECHNICAL SPECS
SKILLS & REQUIREMENTS
STRATEGIC CONDUCTING MARKET
THINKING RESEARCH
ANALYTICAL KNOWLEDGE OF USER EXPERIENCE
SKILLS BEST PRACTICES
PROBLEM-
SOLVING BUSINESS BASICS
LEADERSHIP
SKILLS
FLEXIBILITY
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CASE STUDY
INTERVIEWS
WHAT ARE CASE STUDY INTERVIEWS?
Product management case study interviews are like brain teasers for
aspiring product managers! It typically involves a hypothetical business
problem or scenario that the candidate is asked to analyze and provide a
solution for, which goes on for about 30 minutes to an hour.
These interviews are becoming more and more popular, with 56% of
product managers reporting that they've gone through one. So get
ready to put on your thinking cap and show off your product
management skills!
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3. Market sizing case interviews: These test your ability to estimate the
size of a market or segment, and may involve breaking down the market
into different categories and using various data sources to arrive at a
conclusion.
CASE STUDY
INTERVIEWS
4. Competitive analysis case interviews: These evaluate your ability to
analyze and understand a company's competitive landscape, including
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
It's important to note that the specific type of case interview you receive may
vary depending on the company and position you are applying for.
CASE STUDY
INTERVIEWS
6 STEPS TO SOLVE ANY CASE STUDY
INTERVIEWS
1. Understand the problem: Before you can begin solving the problem, you
need to have a clear understanding of what the problem is. Read the
case study carefully and take notes on important information such as
the company's goals, target market, and any constraints or challenges
they are facing.
2. Identify the key issues: Once you have a clear understanding of the
problem, identify the key issues that need to be addressed. These may
be related to product development, marketing, sales, or other areas of
the business.
INSTAGRAM
Question: How might Instagram create a new revenue stream for
influencers by introducing a direct payment feature, similar to Twitter's
"Tips" feature?
Approach:
1
Identify the target audience
Develop a customer profile
Consider behavior and demographics
Identify potential audience
Define audience size and reach
2
streams for Instagram influencers
Sponsored Posts
Affiliate Marketing
Merchandise Sales
Direct Payment Feature
Overall Popularity of Instagram
3
Conduct user research
Define research objectives
Choose appropriate research methods
Recruit appropriate participants
Conduct the research
4
Determine the features & design of the
direct payment feature
User Stories
Features and Enablers
Market Readiness
15 PRACTICE CASE STUDIES
FOR YOUR PM INTERVIEW
5
Develop a pricing strategy
Types of pricing strategies
Customer behavior
Value proposition
Differentiators
6
Develop a launch plan
Define the product
Develop a marketing strategy
Create a user onboarding plan
Consider partnerships and integrations
Sample Answer:
To identify the target audience for the direct payment feature, the
candidate should first develop a customer profile of Instagram influencers
with a significant following and a track record of producing quality content.
They should also consider the behavior and demographics of the target
audience, such as the differences between female and male influencers.
The candidate should then identify the potential audience and create a
customer profile to get a better idea of the target audience. Finally, they
should define the audience size and reach, considering how many
Instagram influencers meet the criteria and how many of them would be
interested in a direct payment feature.
15 PRACTICE CASE STUDIES
FOR YOUR PM INTERVIEW
GOOGLE’S NEIGHBOURLY
Question: How would you go about planning the 12-month product
roadmap?
1
Understand the problem statement
Understand the target audience, the
product features, and business goals
Define objective
2
Conduct a market analysis
Identifying competition
Market size
Target audience
Revenue streams
3
Develop a product strategy
Define the market and specific needs
Identify key differentiators
Set business goals
Outline target audience
4
Create a product strategy
Define the roadmap timeline
Determine milestones and features
Set release timelines
Add bars for each task
5
Choose metrics to track
Review available recruiting metrics
Categorize metrics
Tie metrics to objectives
15 PRACTICE CASE STUDIES
FOR YOUR PM INTERVIEW
6
Develop a revenue model
Choose a revenue model approach
Consider market opportunities and
user behavior
Evaluate sales funnels
Prioritize revenue metrics
Sample Answer:
To plan the 12-month product roadmap for the Neighbourly app launched
by Google, I would first conduct a market analysis to understand the
competition, market size, and potential user base. Based on the market
analysis, I would develop a product strategy that aligns with the overall
business goals.
To track the success of the Neighbourly app, I would choose metrics such as
user engagement, retention, and acquisition. These metrics would help to
monitor the overall user behavior and identify areas for improvement.
Lastly, to come up with a revenue model for the app, I would consider
multiple options such as charging a commission on local deals, sponsored
content, and premium subscriptions.
For instance, I would charge a commission on local deals since it aligns with
the app's overall goal of promoting local communities while generating
revenue.
15 PRACTICE CASE STUDIES
FOR YOUR PM INTERVIEW
APPLE
Question: How would you estimate the cost of developing new features
for Apple Maps?
Approach:
1
Define the scope of the new feature
User requirements
Technical requirements
The timeline for development
2
Break down the feature into smaller
components
User interface
Backend services
Data storage
Third-party integrations, etc.
3
Estimate the effort required for each
component
Time to develop each component
Complexity of the task
Skills required
Any dependencies on other teams or
third-party services
4
Estimate the cost of development
Effort required for each component
Hourly rates of the engineers, designers,
& other team members involved
15 PRACTICE CASE STUDIES
FOR YOUR PM INTERVIEW
5
Consider other costs
Testing
Documentation
Project management
6
Factor in contingency
Estimate to account for unforeseen
events, delays, or changes in scope
7
Present the estimate
Discuss the assumptions & risks
involved
Sample Answer:
To estimate the cost of developing new features for Apple Maps, I would
follow the following steps:
1. Understand the scope of the new feature: Let's say we want to add a new
feature that allows users to search for nearby restaurants based on cuisine
type. I would ask questions to clarify the user requirements, such as how the
user interface should look like, what kind of data we need to collect, and
what kind of third-party APIs we need to integrate with.
2. Break down the feature into smaller components: Based on the scope, I
would identify the different components that need to be developed, such
as user interface design, backend services development, data storage, and
third-party integrations.
3. Estimate the effort required for each component: For the user interface
design, I would estimate it would take 2 weeks for a designer to create
wireframes and high-fidelity designs. For backend services development, I
15 PRACTICE CASE STUDIES
FOR YOUR PM INTERVIEW
would estimate it would take 6 weeks for two engineers to develop the
necessary APIs and database schema. For data storage, I would estimate
it would take 1 week for a data engineer to set up the necessary data
pipelines and storage. For third-party integrations, I would estimate it
would take 2 weeks for a backend engineer to integrate with Yelp and
other APIs.
4. Estimate the cost of development: Based on the hourly rates of the team
members involved, I would calculate the cost of development to be
$200,000.
https:/ bit.ly/41BbX2R
15 PRACTICE CASE STUDIES
FOR YOUR PM INTERVIEW
TESLA FOODS
Question: How do you come up with product recommendations for Tesla
Foods?
Approach:
1
Understand the market
Understand Market landscape,
competition, target audience, customer
needs, & pain points
Identify opportunities & gaps in the market
2
Analyze profitability
Maximizing Profitability = Profitability of
the current product offerings Vs
potential profitability of new product
recommendations
3
Conduct a feasibility study
Technical feasibility
Market demand
Financial viability of each recommendation
4
Prioritize the recommendations
Feasibility
Potential profitability
Impact on the overall business strategy
5
Develop a product roadmap
Timeline & Milestones
Resources
Budget
15 PRACTICE CASE STUDIES
FOR YOUR PM INTERVIEW
Sample Answer:
SPOTIFY
Problem Statement:
Discover Weekly is a feature on Spotify that generates a weekly playlist for
each individual user, based on their listening history and behavior on the
platform. The goal of this feature is to help users discover new music and
increase their time spent listening on the platform.
Approach:
1
Define the Metrics
User engagement
User retention
Discovery rate
2
Collect Data
User surveys
User behavior analysis
A/B testing
3
Analyze Data
Cohort analysis
Funnel analysis
Segmentation analysis
15 PRACTICE CASE STUDIES
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4
Use Insights to Improve the Feature
Personalization
User feedback
A/B testing to test different variations of
the featur
Sample Answer:
I would then collect data on these metrics through user surveys, user
behavior analysis, and A/B testing. Once we have the data, we would
conduct cohort analysis, funnel analysis, and segmentation analysis to
draw insights and identify areas of improvement.
BUMBLE
Problem Statement: Improve Bumble's subscription flow & usability for
working professionals, increasing session lengths & DAU, through redesign
& opportunity identification.
Skills Evaluated: Market Research And Analysis, Data Analysis, Design &
Test Potential Improvements, Performance Monitoring, Communication,
Problem-Solving
Approach:
Research and analyze the target market
1
Conduct user research
Analyze existing data
Identify pain points
Understand preferences
Identify opportunities
2
Map out the current subscription flow
Identify pain points
Analyze user data & metrics
Evaluate the current payment options
Assess limitations
3
Design and test potential improvements
Brainstorm potential improvements
Design and develop prototypes
Conduct usability testing
15 PRACTICE CASE STUDIES
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4
Monitor and analyze performance
Set up relevant metrics
Conduct A/B testing
Analyze user feedback
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15 PRACTICE CASE STUDIES
FOR YOUR PM INTERVIEW
Sample Answer:
GOOGLE PAY
Problem statement: Improve the user experience of Google Pay for
Indian users by redesigning the app to increase retention rates and make
transactions faster and easier, ultimately increasing user awareness of
their payments.
Approach:
Conduct research & analyze the target
1
market
Define the target audience
Conduct competitive analysis
Identify user pain points
Analyze user preferences
2
Analyze the current user experience
Evaluate the existing features of Google
Pay
Review user feedback and behavior
data
3
Design and test potential improvements
Brainstorm and ideate
Prototyping and testing
Iteration and optimization
4
Monitor and analyze performance
Set up tracking and analytics
Analyze performance data
Make data-driven improvements
Iterate and optimize
15 PRACTICE CASE STUDIES
FOR YOUR PM INTERVIEW
Sample Answer:
To improve the user experience of Google Pay for Indian users, I would start
by conducting research to understand our target audience's preferences
and pain points. Based on this analysis, I would identify opportunities to
improve the user experience and retention rates.
Next, I would analyze the current user experience of Google Pay to identify
areas of improvement, such as making the QR code scanner more
accessible or simplifying the payment process. Then, I would design and
test potential improvements, such as a more intuitive user interface or a
more personalized experience, to determine which changes are most
effective.
By following this structured approach, we can ensure that Google Pay's user
experience is optimized for Indian users, leading to increased retention
rates and user awareness of their payments, and ultimately driving
business growth.
15 PRACTICE CASE STUDIES
FOR YOUR PM INTERVIEW
BOOKMYSHOW
Question: How might we reimagine the future of ticket booking?
Approach:
1
Conduct Research and Analysis
Research on the current ticket booking
process
Analyze the target market's preferences &
pain points
Identify opportunities to improve the user
experience & retention rates
2
Identify Key Problems
Identify pain points
Such as long wait times, confusing
navigation, or limited seat availability
3
Brainstorm Solutions
Simplifying the booking process
Introducing new features
Providing a more personalized
experience
4
5 Monitor and Iterate
15 PRACTICE CASE STUDIES
FOR YOUR PM INTERVIEW
Sample Answer:
https:/ bit.ly/41BbX2R
15 PRACTICE CASE STUDIES
FOR YOUR PM INTERVIEW
WHATSAPP
Question: How would you improve user engagement on WhatsApp?
1
Approach: Understand the current state of user
engagement
Daily & monthly active users
Time spent on the platform
Most popular features used by the users
2
Identify user needs and pain points
Users' communication preferences
Types of content they are interested in
The features they would like to see on
the platform
3
Analyze data to gain insights
Analyze user engagement metrics
Time spent on the platform
Identify other relevant metrics such as
retention rate, churn rate, & user
acquisition cost
4
Develop and prioritize solutions
Potential impact
Feasibility of implementationa
5
measurement
Timelines
Resource requirements
Metrics
Address potential challenges & risks
15 PRACTICE CASE STUDIES
FOR YOUR PM INTERVIEW
Sample Answer:
For example, if I find that users are spending less time on the platform than
before, I would propose solutions such as adding new features or improving
existing ones that users find valuable.
Additionally, I would conduct user research to gain insights into user needs
and pain points related to WhatsApp usage.
1
Define the goal
Identify the key metric
Determine the baseline
Set a target
Establish a timeframe
2
want to see on the platform
Conduct user research
Define user segments
Analyze user behavior
Look at industry trends
3
understand the behavior of the user
Identify the content preferences and
interests of each user persona
Prioritize user personas based on their
impact on the platform's success
Create user personas that accurately
represent the identified groups and their
preferences
4
Highlight the pain points
Analyze feedback and user complaints
Identify common pain points
15 PRACTICE CASE STUDIES
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Understand the problem causing flow
5
Identify the factors leading to content
quality degradation
Understand the impact of these factors
Identify potential solutions
6
Solutions + Wireframes
Evaluate potential solutions
Develop wireframes
Consider the impact on other features
Prioritization
Sample Answer:
I would prioritize these features using the R.I.C.E framework, which would
ensure that we focus on the features that have the greatest impact and
require the least effort.
For the 3-month plan, I would focus on implementing the algorithm and
custom content preferences tool, and for the 6-month plan, I would focus
on ongoing improvements and iterations to the platform based on user
feedback and usage data.
15 PRACTICE CASE STUDIES
FOR YOUR PM INTERVIEW
MICROSOFT
Question: How would you redesign the Microsoft Developer Network?
Approach:
1
Understand the current state of the
Microsoft Developer Network
Current design & functionality
User feedback & pain points.
2
Define the goals of the redesign
Improving user experience
Increasing engagement
Better support & resources for
developers
3
Analyze the target audience
Level of expertise
Programming languages
Platforms used
Preferred learning style
6
Determine the design requirements
Create prototypes
Test prototypes with users
Analyze user feedback
Make necessary iterations
7
Incorporate feedback
Finalize user interface design
Define website functionality
Create wireframes and mockups
Test the final design
Sample Answer:
Before starting the redesign of the Microsoft Developer Network, I would first
gain an understanding of the current state of the network. I would ask
questions to clarify the current design and functionality of the network, such
as what users like and dislike, what pain points they have, and what their
needs are.
Once I have a good understanding of the current state, I would then define
the goals of the redesign. My goals would include improving user
experience, increasing engagement, and providing better support and
resources for developers. By improving the user experience, we could make
the network more user-friendly and efficient, while increasing engagement
would keep developers coming back to the network. Providing better
support and resources would also help to keep developers engaged, as well
as make the network more valuable to them.
15 PRACTICE CASE STUDIES
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After defining the goals, I would analyze the target audience of the network.
I would consider their level of expertise, the programming languages and
platforms they use, and their preferred learning style. This would help me to
tailor the design to their specific needs and preferences.
Based on this research, I would then develop a design strategy that includes
a site map, wireframes, and user flows. I would create prototypes of the new
design and test them with real users to gather feedback and make
necessary iterations.
Finally, I would develop the final design based on the feedback and testing
results. This would include the user interface design, content strategy, and
functionality. I would ensure that the final design meets the goals of the
redesign and is tailored to the needs and preferences of our target
audience.
15 PRACTICE CASE STUDIES
FOR YOUR PM INTERVIEW
FACEBOOK
Question: How would you monetize Facebook dating?
Approach:
Understand the product & its target
1
audience
Understand the unique features of
Facebook Dating
Define the target audience
Conduct market segmentation
Determine the positioning strategy
2
Analyze the competition
Compile a list of competitors
Deep-dive into service offerings and
marketing strategies
Identify gaps in the market
3
Develop a monetization strategy
Analyze the market
Identify revenue streams
Test the monetization strategy
4
Assess feasibility
Evaluate the impact on user experience
Consider revenue generation
Evaluate alignment with values & user
expectations
Evaluate the strategy as a whole
15 PRACTICE CASE STUDIES
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5
Present the strategy
Clearly communicate the strategy
Explain the rationale
Highlight potential benefits
Use visual aids
Sample Answer:
This will enhance the user experience and provide value to users who
are looking for meaningful relationships. We can also consider
targeted advertising on the platform, but with strict privacy controls
to protect user data.
https:/ bit.ly/41BbX2R
15 PRACTICE CASE STUDIES
FOR YOUR PM INTERVIEW
GROWW
Question: How do you optimize the user onboarding and registration
flows for Groww?
Approach:
1
Understand the current user
onboarding and registration flows
Review the current flows to understand
the process
Identify areas of improvement &
prioritize based on their impact on the
user experience & resources available.
Document findings with clear and
actionable recommendations
2
Define the goals and metrics
Understand KPIs and Metrics
Define SMART Goals
Identify Metrics that align with the
SMART goals
3
Create user personas
Conduct user research
Organize the research data
Create fictional personas
Ensure persona empathy
15 PRACTICE CASE STUDIES
FOR YOUR PM INTERVIEW
Create wireframes and prototypes
4
Understand the purpose of wireframes
Create wireframes based on user flow
diagrams
Prototype your wireframes
Test the wireframes and prototypes
with users
Implement the new flows
5
Iterate and improve
Incorporate user feedback and
performance metrics
Sample Answer:
I would test the wireframes and prototypes with users to validate their
effectiveness and gather feedback.
Approach:
Understand the market and
1
competitive landscape
Conduct market research
Identify & assess competitors
Determine market competitiveness
Stay informed about emerging trends
2
Analyze the user data
Demographics
Behavior patterns
Viewing preferences
Feedback
3
Define growth and profitability goals
Establish SMART goals
Set targets for user acquisition,
retention, engagement, & monetization
Identifying metrics
4
Outline the initiatives, features, & enhancements
Prioritize new content acquisitions
Improve the user interface
Optimize the recommendation algorithm
Experiment with new pricing models
15 PRACTICE CASE STUDIES
FOR YOUR PM INTERVIEW
5
Execute and iterate
Measure the impact
Conduct A/B testing, user surveys, focus
groups, & other forms of user research
Iterate based on user feedback & data
insights
Sample Answer:
Second, I would review the user data and identify areas where Netflix
can improve the user experience and drive engagement. This could
involve improving the recommendation algorithm, personalizing the
user interface, or offering more interactive features like live events or
social viewing.
Third, I would define specific SMART goals for user growth and
profitability, such as increasing the number of subscribers,
improving retention rates, and optimizing revenue streams from
advertising or merchandising.
15 PRACTICE CASE STUDIES
FOR YOUR PM INTERVIEW
https:/ bit.ly/44ghain
15 PRACTICE CASE STUDIES
FOR YOUR PM INTERVIEW
UBER
Question: How would you measure the success of Uber Ride?
1
(KPIs)
Number of rides completed
Customer satisfaction ratings
Driver satisfaction ratings
Revenue generated
2
Establish a baseline
Determine the current state
Set a target
3 Set goals
Use SMART goals for each KPI
4
Monitor and track progress
Use data analytics tools
Monitor progress regularly
Use leading and lagging indicators
5
Gather and analyze data
Evaluate the effectiveness of current
strategies and features
Consider user experience
Communicate changes effectively
15 PRACTICE CASE STUDIES
FOR YOUR PM INTERVIEW
Sample Answer:
To measure the success of Uber Ride, I would first identify the key
performance indicators (KPIs) that are relevant to the success of the
product. These may include the number of rides completed, customer
satisfaction ratings, driver satisfaction ratings, and revenue generated.
I would then establish a baseline for each KPI and set specific,
measurable goals for each KPI based on the baseline and business
objectives.
Next, I would monitor and track progress toward each KPI using data
analytics tools and other relevant metrics. This would be done on an
ongoing basis to ensure that progress is being made toward the
established goals. If progress is not being made, I would make
adjustments to the product strategy or features based on the data
collected. This may include making changes to the user experience,
adding or removing features, or adjusting pricing or promotions.
Are you ready to get into this lucrative industry? Check Out AltUni’s
Certificate Program In Product Management where you get to learn
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Product Manager
Director of Product
VP of Product
SALARIES OF PM CAREERS
Product Manager
Avg. Base Salary:
13.5 LPA
Director of Product
Avg. Base Salary:
30.6 LPA
VP of Product
Avg. Base Salary:
41.8 LPA
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HOW TO BREAK INTO
PRODUCT MANAGEMENT?
Well, we are not going to answer that here because who are we to tell you
that when we’ve got an entire lineup of Expert Product Managers who’ve
worked with top companies like Booking.com, Sharechat, Flipkart,
Microsoft, Atlassian, Amazon, etc.?
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