Casing Frameworks

Question 1

S.C.A.M.P.E.R.

Answer 1

Substitute
Combine
Adapt
Modify
Put to other uses
Eliminate
Reverse

Question 2

Combine

Answer 2

Combine two or more parts of the problem, product, or process to create something new or enhance the original

Question 3

Substitute

Answer 3

Replace part of the problem, product, or process with something else

Question 4

Adapt

Answer 4

Adjust or tweak your problem/ideas

Question 5

Magnify

Answer 5

Exaggerate your idea or parts of it to increase its perceived value or create new insights

Question 6

Put to Other Uses

Answer 6

How could you reuse or reapply your idea to other uses

Question 7

Eliminate

Answer 7

Simplify, reduce, or eliminate components to narrow the challenge to what is most important

Question 8

Rearrange or reverse

Answer 8

How would the problem, product, or process work in reverse or a different order

Question 9

C.I.R.C.L.E.S.

Answer 9

Clarify the case
Identify the users
Report their needs/pains
Cut through and prioritize the most important need/pain
List solutions for the need/pain
Evaluate tradeoffs
Summarize

Question 10

Clarify

Answer 10

Ask questions to scope the case, demonstrate your understanding, determine what’s in and out of the problem statement, and align with the interviewer on what the product is and what you are solving for

Do we have an existing definition of success?

Do we have guiding principles or a north star?

Is there anything we don’t care about?

State the elephant in the room (lay out your approach)

Question 11

G.B.O.T.

Answer 11

What is the geography, business model, objective, and timeline (immediate or moonshot)

Question 12

5 Ws and H

Answer 12

What is it?
Who is it for?
Why do they need it?
When is it available?
Where is it available?
How does it work

Question 13

Identify

Answer 13

Define at least three user personas that cover all current and potential users

Prioritize which persona you would like to focus on based on the case objectives or a framework

Question 14

Report

Answer 14

List the needs/pain points of the persona you focus on

Question 15

Jobs to Be Done

Answer 15

As a [user], I want [job to be done, so that I can [benefit]

Question 16

Cut through and prioritize

Answer 16

Which needs are the most important to solve for first?

If you solved for it, which need would get you closest to the business objective?

Question 17

List solutions

Answer 17

Brainstorm at least three product features that solve for the need(s) you identified as most important

Question 18

Attribution method

Answer 18

List all the product attributes by category and mix and max to get a new combination

Question 19

Evaluate tradoffs

Answer 19

Prioritize the solutions you brainstormed to identify which one to build

Question 20

Desirability, Feasability, Viability

Answer 20

Desirability = how much value does it add to the user?

Feasibility = how hard is it to build?

Viability = how much money does it generate? How much does it support the business?

Question 21

Summarize

Answer 21

Review your answer and the steps you took to get there

Question 22

4 Rs

Answer 22

Recommendation
Rational
Risks
Next steps

Question 23

Attributes of good metrics

Answer 23

Quantify the objectives of the product

Capture the signal vs the noise

Are leading vs lagging

Question 24

High-Level Metrics Funnel

Answer 24

Reach

Activation

Engagement

Retention

Business-specific

Question 25

Porter’s 8 Forces

Answer 25

Competitive rivalry
Buyers
Suppliers
New entrants
Substitutes
Complements
Regulation
Distribution

Question 26

4 Ps

Answer 26

Price = link to real and perceived value

Product = understand what the product is, who needs it, why, and what makes it unique

Place = where/how will the product be sold/distributed

Promotion = convincing consumers they need your product and it is priced appropriately through advertising, public relations, and your overall media strategy

Question 27

6 Cs

Answer 27

Company
Consumer
Competitors
Collaborators
Cost
Capabilities

Question 28

Internal considerations

Answer 28

Balance sheet

Portfolio/product mix

Question 29

External considerations

Answer 29

Market growth stage

Market consolidation level

Disruption threat

Benchmarks

Question 30

Revenue Considerations

Answer 30

Distribution
Product mix/cross-selling
Pricing power/bundling
Product innovation with R&D
Better customer experience
More efficient sales

Question 31

Cost Considerations

Answer 31

Fixed costs
1. Overhead
2. Rent
3. Maintenance
4. Marketing

Variable costs
1. Raw materials
2. Labor
3. Transportation
4. Distribution/sales fees

Question 32

Balance sheet considerations

Answer 32

Lower cost of capital

More financial resources

CAPEX rationalization

Improve AR/AP

Better inventory management

Question 33

M&A Considerations

Answer 33

General
1. Disruption to operations
2. Diluted focus on core business
3. Lose customers to brand
4. Lose supplies
5. Poor execution
6. One-time cost

Barriers
1. Higher pay
2. Lose staff
3. Uncertainty
4. Culture clash
5. Poor hiring

Legal issues
1. Antitrust
2. Parents
3. Headcount reduction

Question 34

Three key PM questions

Answer 34

Are you asking the right questions?

Are you making good decisions?

Are you communicating effectively?

Question 35

Technology tradeoffs

Answer 35

Complexity vs speed

Quality vs quantity

Metric-level utilization

Flexibility vs ease

Now vs later

Server vs client

Question 36

The Five Why’s

Answer 36

Why
Why
Why
Why
Why