Behavioral

Can you describe a project that did not go as planned?

Data Engineering ManagerEngineering ManagerML Engineering ManagerData Science Manager

Microsoft

Dropbox

Amazon

Rakuten

Wayfair

Livspace

Did you come across this question in an interview?

Answers

Anonymous

7 months ago
4.4Exceptional
In my previous role at Liberty, we undertook a significant data migration project that involved transitioning legacy systems to modern platforms like Salesforce and AWS Workforce. Initially, the project was planned with a strict timeline, and we had accounted for potential issues such as data compatibility and system downtime.
However, during the migration, we encountered unexpected challenges with data inconsistencies and quality issues that were more severe than anticipated. These issues arose because the legacy systems had inconsistent data formats and lacked comprehensive data validation rules, leading to discrepancies when transferring data to the new systems.
To address these challenges, we had to pause the migration process and implement an extensive data cleansing and validation phase. This involved using Python scripts and tools like Salesforce Inspector to standardize data formats and validate data accuracy. While this extended the project timeline, it was crucial to ensure that the data integrity was maintained post-migration.
After the adjustments, we successfully completed the migration with improved data accuracy, which was a critical requirement for the project's success. This experience taught me the importance of thorough data assessment and planning for contingencies, especially when dealing with complex data systems. It also reinforced the value of a flexible project management approach to accommodate unforeseen challenges.
  • Can you describe a project that did not go as planned?
  • Can you share a time or project that didn't go as planned and what you learned from the experience?
  • What was the root cause of the project failure and how did you address it?
  • What steps did you take to mitigate the impact of the project failure?
  • Can you reflect on what you learned from the experience and what you would do differently in the future?
  • How did you maintain a positive attitude and keep your team motivated during the challenging situation?
  • How did you communicate the project failure to stakeholders and manage their expectations?
  • What do you think is the most important trait for a manager to have?
  • What are some common mistakes that managers make? How do you avoid them?
  • Can you describe a time when you had to adapt your management style to better suit the needs of your team members?
  • How do you build trust with your team as a manager?
  • What steps do you take to ensure that your team is motivated and engaged in their work?

Interview question asked to ML Engineering Managers, Data Science Managers, Data Engineering Managers and other roles interviewing at BrowserStack, Wattpad, Rakuten and others: Can you describe a project that did not go as planned?.