Behavioral

Give us an example of when you faced a technical and a people challenge at the same time.

Technical Program Manager

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Answers

Anonymous

7 months ago
3.4Strong
i was the technical program manager for a new software development that was being integrated into the help center for customers. Upon completing the project planning and initiation phase, we were in the execution phase with clear milestone goal. We found out that one of the major components were not working well, and the stakeholder accountable failed to escalate the problem and tried to fix it on their own. It caused QA testing to be delayed and I had to be delegate and schedule a meeting with the stakeholder to understand the reason for the QA delays. I had to work out a plan to fix the issue by delegate the problem to another team who had experience with backend design, and informed the stakeholder that the escalation path must be utilized even if the risk can possibly be avoided. As a result he committed to working on this and changed his decision making process and we were able to launch on time 

Anonymous

9 months ago
4.4Exceptional
Our team was tasked with implementing a feature that allowed messages to fallback to SMS with a reduced retry time. This was a highly anticipated feature by users and executives alike.
Task: As a key member of the team, I was responsible for overseeing the technical implementation and managing stakeholder expectations. The challenge was compounded by the unexpected departure of a key project manager during a critical phase.
Action: To navigate this complex situation, I took on additional responsibilities. I collaborated closely with the engineering team to analyze the technical implications of reducing retry times, considering factors like system load and battery life. I prioritized tasks and communicated regularly with the team to ensure everyone was aligned on the project goals. To maintain stakeholder confidence, I provided frequent updates on progress and proactively addressed concerns. I also implemented a robust communication plan to keep the team informed and engaged.
To balance the need for a faster retry time with potential system impacts, we decided to implement the feature in phases. We started with a moderate reduction in retry time and monitored system performance closely. This approach allowed us to gather data and make informed decisions about further adjustments.
Result: Through careful planning, effective communication, and a data-driven approach, we successfully implemented the feature with minimal impact on system performance. User satisfaction increased significantly, and we received positive feedback from executive stakeholders. This experience demonstrated my ability to manage complex projects, collaborate effectively, and make data-driven decisions under pressure.
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Interview question asked to Technical Program Managers interviewing at Shopee, Zalora, Amazon and others: Give us an example of when you faced a technical and a people challenge at the same time..