How would you improve Waze as a PM?

Introduction

As a seasoned VP of Product, I'm excited to tackle the challenge of improving Waze. Waze is a community-driven navigation app that provides real-time traffic information and turn-by-turn directions. My approach will focus on enhancing user experience, expanding features, and strengthening Waze's market position. Let's dive into a structured analysis to identify key improvement areas.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (5 mins)

• What are the current key performance indicators (KPIs) for Waze?

Why this matters: Understanding current metrics helps identify areas for improvement. Hypothetical answer: Daily active users (DAU), average trip duration, user-reported incidents, ad revenue. Impact: Guides focus on metrics that need improvement.

• What are the most common user complaints or feature requests?

Why this matters: Directly addresses user pain points. Hypothetical answer: Battery drain, inaccurate ETAs, limited offline functionality. Impact: Prioritizes improvements that align with user needs.

• How does Waze's market share compare to competitors like Google Maps?

Why this matters: Helps understand competitive landscape and market positioning. Hypothetical answer: Waze has 25% market share compared to Google Maps' 70%. Impact: Informs strategy to differentiate and gain market share.

• What are Waze's current monetization strategies?

Why this matters: Identifies potential areas for revenue growth. Hypothetical answer: In-app advertising, location-based promotions, and partnerships with local businesses. Impact: Guides improvements that can enhance both user experience and revenue.

Based on these hypothetical answers, I'll assume that Waze is looking to improve user engagement, address key pain points, and explore new monetization opportunities while maintaining its community-driven approach.