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Introduction
As product managers, creating transformative user experiences is at the
core of what we do. When tasked with the challenge to reimagine a
product, it’s our duty to think both critically and creatively. This
post will explore how candidates can answer an interview question
focused on innovation: How can we make the restaurant discovery
experience 10 times better? We’ll utilize structured frameworks as
described in ‘Decode and Conquer: Answers to Product Management
Interviews’ for forming an outstanding response that highlights
strategic thinking.
Detailed Guide on Framework Application
The CIRCLES Method™, coined by Lewis C. Lin, is an effective framework
for tackling product design and improvement questions. CIRCLES stands
for Comprehend the Situation, Identify the Customer, Report the
Customer’s Needs, Cut through prioritization, List solutions, Evaluate
tradeoffs, and Summarize Recommendations. It allows the candidate to
systematically breakdown and address the complexities of enhancing a
product experience.
Step-by-step guide on how to apply the framework:
-
Comprehend the Situation: Start by understanding the
current market, including competitors, and what “10x better” could
mean in the context of restaurant discovery. -
Identify the Customer: Define who the target user is
and clarify their persona. Different users may have diverse needs and
preferences in a restaurant discovery platform. -
Report the Customer’s Needs: Itemize the needs and
pain points of your target user. This can include factors such as
speed, convenience, personalized recommendations, dietary
restrictions, and social aspects. -
Cut through prioritization: Prioritize the identified
needs based on impact to the user and technological feasibility. -
List solutions: Brainstorm potential solutions,
features, or enhancements that could significantly improve the
restaurant discovery experience. -
Evaluate tradeoffs: Weigh the proposed solutions
against each other considering factors such as cost, complexity, and
user impact. -
Summarize Recommendations: Conclude with a
data-driven recommendation that best addresses the user needs
prioritized earlier.
Hypothetical examples:
Let’s say Sarah represents the target user, a millennial who enjoys
trying new cuisine but has dietary restrictions and a busy lifestyle.
Using the CIRCLES Method™, one might respond:
-
Comprehend the Situation: With many restaurant discovery
platforms already in play, making the experience 10x better could
involve leveraging technology for personalization and efficiency. -
Identify the Customer: Our target customer, Sarah, values a
platform that respects her time and dietary needs while enabling her
to explore new dining options. -
Report the Customer’s Needs: Sarah requires precise,
personalized recommendations, an easy reservation system, and
nutritional information at her fingertips. -
Cut through prioritization: Among those needs, personalized
recommendations may be the most significant game-changer, followed by
ease of reservation. -
List solutions: Introduce AI-driven personalization to
recommend restaurants, a seamless in-app reservation feature, and a
real-time nutritional information overlay for menu items. -
Evaluate tradeoffs: While AI personalization may be costly,
it has the potential for high impact and user retention. The
reservation feature adds convenience and the nutritional overlay
caters to dietary needs but may require restaurant partnership. -
Summarize Recommendations: Recommend developing an AI
personalization engine as the first step, enabling Sarah to discover
new restaurants that fit her profile quickly.
Facts checks and approximations:
Support the need for AI-driven recommendations with data such as the
percentage of users demanding a more personalized experience. Mention
the average time saved with a seamless reservation process based on
market research or user surveys to back your prioritization without
needing exact figures.
Tips on effective communication:
Communicating your ideas requires clarity, brevity, and conviction.
Use concise language to describe the user’s problem and how your
solution addresses it. Drive your point home with passion and by
demonstrating how your recommendations align with the company’s goals
and user needs.
Conclusion
By adhering to a structured framework like the CIRCLES Method™, PM
candidates can systematically dissect and address the complexities of
improving a product experience. This disciplined approach helps
communicate innovative solutions effectively and demonstrates a
candidate’s ability to formulate strategies that align with user needs
and business objectives. Rehearse with this framework to refine your
storytelling skills and innovation prowess for your PM interviews.
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