Introduction
Welcome to a blog post designed for those preparing for product management interviews at top tech firms. Navigating through ambiguity is an essential skill for product managers, and interviewers at FAANG companies often look for your ability to systematically approach and resolve uncertainty. Here, we address the question: If LinkedIn messages are down, how would you identify the reason behind this issue?
Detailed Guide on Framework Application
Choosing a Framework
The DIGS Method™ presents a fitting framework here, standing for Define the problem, Identify the root cause, Generate solutions, and Select the best solution. This method helps break down the problem into manageable pieces and guides you toward a logical resolution.
Step-by-Step Guide on Applying the DIGS Method™
- Define the problem: Start by specifying what ‘messages are down’ means. Is this a total outage, intermittent issues, or slow performance? Are all users affected, or just a subset?
- Identify the root cause: Use a combination of tools and hypotheses to narrow down the potential causes. This may involve checking server status, reviewing recent code deployments, or consulting with the engineering team.
- Generate solutions: Once potential causes are identified, brainstorm on the various solutions that address each root cause. Consider both short-term fixes and long-term preventive measures.
- Select the best solution: Evaluate the solutions based on factors such as implementation time, impact, resource requirements, and risk. Then, make a recommendation for the best course of action.
Hypothetical Example
During the interview, you might say, “Assuming there’s been no recent deployment that could have caused this issue, I would look at server performance and load. If server capacity has been breached due to a sudden spike in user activity, we might need to increase capacity and also review if there’s a more efficient way to handle message traffic.”
Facts Checks and Assumptions
While you will not have access to specific metrics during the interview, you can make educated assumptions. For example, if you’re familiar with typical cloud service performance parameters, you might speculate on common bottlenecks and how they’re generally resolved.
Communication Tips
Communicate your logical problem-solving process effectively. Be methodical and transparent about your assumptions and demonstrate how each step builds upon the previous one. Keep the explanation focused on the problem at hand without going off on tangents.
Conclusion
We discussed the DIGS Method™ as an excellent approach to systematically dissect and solve problems about technical outages like LinkedIn messages being down. By defining the problem, identifying the root cause, generating solutions, and selecting the best one, you portray a structured thought process that is desirable in a product management role. Remember to employ this and other frameworks to enhance your interview performance.