Why has Vendr's contract approval workflow seen a 30% decrease in usage over the past month?

Introduction

The recent 30% decrease in Vendr's contract approval workflow usage is a significant issue that requires immediate attention. As we analyze this product challenge, we'll follow a systematic approach to identify, validate, and address the root cause while considering both short-term fixes and long-term strategic implications.

Our analysis will cover issue identification, hypothesis generation, validation, and solution development. We'll start by clarifying the context, then rule out external factors before diving deep into the product ecosystem, metric breakdown, and data-driven hypotheses.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Looking at the timing, I'm thinking there might have been a recent product update. Has there been any significant change to the contract approval workflow in the past 1-2 months?

Why it matters: Recent changes could directly impact usage patterns. Expected answer: Yes, there was a UI update or No, no major changes. Impact on approach: If yes, we'd focus on the update's impact; if no, we'd look at other factors.

• Considering user segments, I'm curious about the distribution of this decrease. Is the 30% drop consistent across all user types, or is it more pronounced in specific segments?

Why it matters: Helps identify if the issue is universal or segment-specific. Expected answer: It's consistent / It varies by segment. Impact on approach: Segment-specific issues would lead us to investigate those user groups more closely.

• Thinking about the metric itself, I'm wondering about its components. Is the 30% decrease in the number of contracts initiated, completed, or both?

Why it matters: Pinpoints where in the workflow users are dropping off. Expected answer: Initiated / Completed / Both. Impact on approach: Focuses our investigation on specific parts of the workflow.

• Considering potential system issues, have there been any reported technical problems or downtime in the past month that might have affected the workflow?

Why it matters: Technical issues could explain sudden usage drops. Expected answer: Yes, there were some issues / No, systems have been stable. Impact on approach: If yes, we'd prioritize technical investigations; if no, we'd focus more on user behavior and product design.