What factors are contributing to the unexpected 30% increase in error rates for Extreme Reach's video ad delivery service in the past week?

Introduction

The unexpected 30% increase in error rates for Extreme Reach's video ad delivery service over the past week is a critical issue that demands immediate attention. This analysis will systematically identify, validate, and address the root cause while considering both short-term fixes and long-term strategic implications.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Looking at the timing, I'm thinking this could be related to a recent deployment. Has there been any significant update or change to the ad delivery system in the past 1-2 weeks?

Why it matters: Recent changes often correlate with performance issues. Expected answer: Yes, a new feature was deployed last week. Impact on approach: If confirmed, we'd focus on the new feature and its integration.

• Considering the scale of the issue, I'm wondering about its distribution. Is this 30% increase uniform across all clients and ad types, or are there specific segments more affected?

Why it matters: Helps narrow down potential causes and affected areas. Expected answer: The increase is more pronounced for video ads over 30 seconds. Impact on approach: We'd investigate factors specific to longer video ads.

• Given the nature of ad delivery, I'm curious about network factors. Have there been any changes in CDN providers or network infrastructure recently?

Why it matters: Network issues can significantly impact ad delivery performance. Expected answer: No recent changes to CDN or network infrastructure. Impact on approach: We'd shift focus to application-level issues if confirmed.

• Thinking about external factors, I'm considering industry events. Has there been any unusual spike in ad delivery requests, perhaps due to a major event or campaign?

Why it matters: Unexpected load can strain systems and increase error rates. Expected answer: No significant spikes in overall ad delivery requests. Impact on approach: We'd focus more on internal factors if confirmed.