You have been assigned as the manager to design an incentive structure to the drivers of a cab aggregator. How would design it?

Certainly, I'll provide a detailed, strategic answer to the product strategy problem you've presented. I'll approach this as if I'm directly addressing the interviewer in a first-person perspective, demonstrating deep product thinking and leadership.

Introduction

Thank you for presenting this interesting challenge. To restate, you've asked me to design an incentive structure for drivers of a cab aggregator. This is a critical component of our product strategy, as it directly impacts our ability to attract and retain drivers, which in turn affects our service quality and market position.

The key business objectives tied to this strategy likely include:

1. Increasing driver acquisition and retention
2. Optimizing service availability and quality
3. Balancing profitability with competitive pricing

I'll approach this problem systematically, starting with clarifying our strategic goals, analyzing the market context, defining our incentive structure, and outlining an implementation plan. Let's begin.

Step 1

Clarify the Strategic Goals (3-4 minutes)

Before diving into the solution, I'd like to ensure we're aligned on some key strategic points:

• Based on the current market dynamics, I'm sensing that we might be in a growth phase where balancing driver supply with rider demand is crucial. Could you help me understand where we are in our product lifecycle and how that aligns with our company's current priorities?

Why it matters: This determines whether we prioritize aggressive driver acquisition or focus on optimizing existing driver performance. Expected answer: Growth stage, focusing on expanding our driver network while maintaining service quality. Impact on approach: Would focus on scalable incentive structures that attract new drivers while rewarding consistent performance.

• Considering the competitive landscape, I'm curious about our current market position. Are we currently the market leader, a strong challenger, or an emerging player in our key markets?

Why it matters: Our competitive position influences how aggressive our incentive structure needs to be. Expected answer: Strong challenger in most markets, looking to gain market share. Impact on approach: Would design a more aggressive incentive structure to attract drivers from competitors and gain market share.

• Looking at our customer segments, I'm wondering if we have specific driver demographics or types that we're particularly focused on attracting or retaining. Are there any specific driver segments we're targeting?

Why it matters: Different driver segments may respond to different types of incentives. Expected answer: Targeting both full-time professional drivers and part-time gig workers. Impact on approach: Would create a tiered incentive structure that caters to both full-time and part-time drivers' needs.

• Considering potential resource constraints, could you give me an idea of our current driver acquisition costs and retention rates? This will help me understand the budget implications of our incentive structure.

Why it matters: Helps balance the aggressiveness of incentives with profitability concerns. Expected answer: Moderate acquisition costs, but room for improvement in retention rates. Impact on approach: Would focus on creating a balanced incentive structure that improves retention while keeping acquisition costs in check.

Based on these assumptions, I'll proceed with designing an incentive structure that focuses on scalable growth, competitive differentiation, and improved driver retention, while catering to both full-time and part-time drivers.