Should Just Eat prioritize expanding its restaurant partner network or improving the reliability of existing delivery services?

Introduction

The trade-off between expanding Just Eat's restaurant partner network and improving the reliability of existing delivery services is a critical decision that will shape the company's future growth and customer satisfaction. This scenario touches on the core aspects of our business model and user experience. I'll analyze this trade-off by examining the current product ecosystem, potential impacts, key metrics, and experimental approaches to guide our decision-making process.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Business Context: I'm thinking our current market share and growth rate are crucial factors. Could you share our current market position and how it compares to our main competitors?

Why it matters: Helps determine if we need to prioritize growth or consolidation Expected answer: Moderate market share with room for growth Impact on approach: Would influence whether to focus on expansion or improvement

• User Impact: Based on user feedback, I'm assuming reliability issues are a significant pain point. What percentage of our orders face delivery delays or other reliability problems?

Why it matters: Quantifies the scale of the reliability issue Expected answer: 10-15% of orders face some reliability issues Impact on approach: High percentage would prioritize improving reliability

• Technical Feasibility: Considering our current platform, I'm curious about the technical challenges in scaling our partner network vs. improving delivery reliability. What are our main technical bottlenecks in each area?

Why it matters: Identifies potential roadblocks and resource requirements Expected answer: Partner network expansion is easier technically, reliability improvements require significant backend work Impact on approach: Would influence resource allocation and timeline estimates

• Resource Allocation: Given our current team structure, I'm wondering about our capacity to tackle both initiatives simultaneously. How are our product and engineering teams currently allocated between growth and optimization tasks?

Why it matters: Determines if we need to choose one focus or can pursue both Expected answer: Teams are stretched thin, focusing on one area would be more effective Impact on approach: Would guide whether to recommend a phased approach or single focus

• Timeline and Urgency: Considering market dynamics, I'm thinking about the urgency of this decision. Are there any upcoming market events or competitor moves that we need to factor into our timeline?

Why it matters: Helps prioritize short-term vs. long-term strategies Expected answer: A major competitor is planning to enter our key markets in 6 months Impact on approach: Would influence whether to prioritize quick expansion or focus on strengthening our existing service