Your director at Netflix asks about Continue Watching: should we add more Netflix auto-resume features that might impact accuracy, or maintain manual control?

Introduction

The trade-off we're examining today is whether Netflix should enhance its auto-resume features for Continue Watching, potentially impacting accuracy, or maintain manual control. This scenario touches on user experience, technical capabilities, and product strategy. I'll analyze the trade-offs, propose experiments, and provide a recommendation based on data-driven insights.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Context: I'm thinking about the current state of Continue Watching. Could you share more about its current functionality and any recent changes?

Why it matters: Establishes baseline for improvement Expected answer: Basic auto-resume with some manual options Impact: Informs potential enhancements and user pain points

• Business Context: Based on our strategic priorities, how does improving Continue Watching align with our retention and engagement goals?

Why it matters: Helps prioritize against other initiatives Expected answer: High priority, directly impacts user satisfaction Impact: Justifies resource allocation and timeline

• User Impact: I'm curious about user feedback on the current Continue Watching experience. What are the top complaints or requests?

Why it matters: Identifies key areas for improvement Expected answer: Mix of accuracy issues and desire for more control Impact: Guides feature development focus

• Technical: Considering our current infrastructure, what are the main technical challenges in enhancing auto-resume accuracy?

Why it matters: Assesses feasibility and potential limitations Expected answer: Complexity in handling diverse content types and viewing patterns Impact: Influences approach to feature development and testing

• Resource: Given our current product roadmap, what resources could we allocate to this initiative in the next quarter?

Why it matters: Determines scope and timeline possibilities Expected answer: Limited engineering resources available Impact: Shapes the scale and phasing of potential solutions