Root Cause Analysis Questions
Part of the Product Management Roadmap
In short
"Orders dropped 20% yesterday. What happened?" This classic question tests whether you investigate in a calm, structured way instead of guessing the first thing that comes to mind.
'Metric X dropped 20% last week, why?' — testing structured, hypothesis-driven diagnostic thinking rather than guessing randomly at causes.
Think of it like this
The pressure cooker that won't whistle
When the cooker doesn't whistle, you don't throw it away. You check the obvious things first: is the flame on, is there water, is the rubber ring fitted, is the vent blocked. One by one, until you find it. Root cause analysis is the same checklist thinking.
Watch it happen
Why did orders drop 20% yesterday?
1/5Clarify first: which metric exactly, compared with what, and is it all users or some?
The big ideas
What you need to know
Rule out data issues first
A surprising number of "drops" are broken tracking. Check another source before panicking.
Use an issue tree
Split causes into data, internal and external. It shows the interviewer you're being thorough.
Segment to narrow down
Cut by platform, city, app version and channel. A drop in one segment points straight at a cause.
Check the calendar
Compare with the same day last week and last year. Festivals and long weekends explain many dips.
Save yourself the pain
Common mistakes
Oops
Jumping straight to "probably a competitor" without checking anything.
Do this instead
Work through the tree: data, internal, external, then segment to confirm.
Oops
Exploring every possible cause in equal detail.
Do this instead
Start with the most likely and easiest to check, and say why you're ordering them that way.
Your mission
Build your own issue tree
Quick check
Orders dropped sharply, but only on Android, only on the newest app version. What's the most likely cause?
Go deeper
- 1Practice the structure: clarify the metric, list hypothesis categories, narrow with follow-up questions.
- 2Learn common hypothesis buckets: internal changes, external factors, seasonality, data/tracking issues.
- 3Practice out loud — this is one of the most commonly asked PM interview question types.
More analytical & metrics at this stop
Metrics Design Questions
Guesstimates & Market Sizing
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