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Product Management Root Cause Analysis Question: Investigating sudden drop in daily active users for advertising platform
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Nextsprints

Updated Jan 22, 2025

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Asked at Blis

15 mins

Why has Blis's Smart Platform seen a 15% drop in daily active users over the past month?

Data Analysis Problem-Solving Strategic Thinking AdTech Digital Advertising SaaS
User Engagement Product Metrics Data Analytics Root Cause Analysis AdTech

Introduction

The recent 15% drop in daily active users (DAU) for Blis's Smart Platform over the past month is a critical issue that demands immediate attention and thorough analysis. As we delve into this problem, we'll employ a systematic approach to identify, validate, and address the root cause, considering both short-term fixes and long-term strategic implications.

Our analysis will follow a structured framework, beginning with clarifying questions to establish context, followed by a comprehensive examination of potential causes, data analysis, hypothesis formation, and ultimately, a plan for resolution and future prevention.

Framework overview

This analysis follows a structured approach covering issue identification, hypothesis generation, validation, and solution development.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

  • I'm noticing the specificity of the 15% drop. Has there been any change in how we measure or define DAU recently?

Why it matters: Ensures we're comparing apples to apples in our metrics. Expected answer: No changes in DAU definition or measurement. Impact on approach: If changed, we'd need to recalibrate our analysis baseline.

  • Given the one-month timeframe, were there any significant product updates or changes deployed during or just before this period?

Why it matters: Helps pinpoint potential internal causes for the DAU drop. Expected answer: A minor UI update was rolled out three weeks ago. Impact on approach: Would focus initial investigation on the impact of this update.

  • Have we observed any unusual patterns in user engagement or retention metrics alongside the DAU drop?

Why it matters: Provides context on whether this is an isolated issue or part of a broader trend. Expected answer: Slight decrease in session duration noted. Impact on approach: Would investigate correlation between session duration and DAU.

  • Are there any specific user segments (e.g., geographic, device type) that seem more affected by this DAU drop?

Why it matters: Helps narrow down potential causes and target our investigation. Expected answer: Mobile users in North America show a higher drop rate. Impact on approach: Would prioritize analysis of mobile experience and regional factors.

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