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Product Management Root Cause Analysis Question: Investigating sudden decline in Harri's ATS job postings
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Nextsprints

Updated Jan 22, 2025

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Asked at Harri

15 mins

Why has Harri's applicant tracking system seen a 30% drop in new job postings over the past month?

Data Analysis Problem Solving Strategic Thinking HR Tech SaaS Recruitment
Product Strategy Metrics Analysis Root Cause Analysis User Behavior ATS

Introduction

Harri's applicant tracking system experiencing a 30% drop in new job postings over the past month is a significant issue that requires immediate attention. This decline could have far-reaching implications for Harri's business model, user satisfaction, and market position. I'll approach this problem systematically, focusing on identifying the root cause, validating hypotheses, and developing both short-term and long-term solutions.

Framework overview

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

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

  • Looking at the timing, I'm thinking there might be a seasonal component. Has this 30% drop been compared to the same period last year?

Why it matters: Seasonal fluctuations could explain the drop without indicating a deeper problem. Expected answer: Yes, it's been compared and is still significant. Impact on approach: If seasonal, we'd focus on year-over-year trends rather than month-to-month.

  • Considering user segments, I'm curious if this drop is uniform across all customer types. Are we seeing differences between enterprise and SMB clients?

Why it matters: Different segments may have different root causes, requiring targeted solutions. Expected answer: The drop is more pronounced in the SMB segment. Impact on approach: We'd prioritize investigating SMB-specific factors and tailoring solutions accordingly.

  • Given the metric specificity, I'm wondering about the definition of "new job postings." Has there been any recent change in how this is measured or categorized?

Why it matters: Ensures we're comparing apples to apples and not dealing with a measurement issue. Expected answer: No changes in measurement or categorization. Impact on approach: If changed, we'd need to recalibrate our analysis based on the new definition.

  • Thinking about recent updates, have there been any significant changes to the job posting process or user interface in the last 1-2 months?

Why it matters: Recent changes could directly impact user behavior and system performance. Expected answer: A minor UI update was rolled out 6 weeks ago. Impact on approach: We'd investigate the potential impact of this update on user experience and posting behavior.

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