Metrics question
One of the brands in the grocery category is not selling and has stocks left that are soon to expire. Specify all possible reasons for it and also suggest solutions for each of the reasons.
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What this question tests
Tests structured, multi-cause diagnosis for slow-moving perishable inventory, pairing each cause with a specific fix rather than generic advice.
How to approach it
- Note the constraint: a specific brand is selling slowly with stock nearing expiration, risking write-offs.
- Pricing cause: the item may be priced above perceived value; fix with a time-boxed clearance discount as expiration nears.
- Placement cause: weak shelf or search visibility; fix by improving placement or cross-merchandising with a fast-selling item.
- Demand-fit cause: the brand may not suit this customer base; fix by redirecting this batch to a stronger-demand channel and reconsidering future orders.
- Listing-quality cause: poor packaging or weak photos/reviews suppressing purchase; fix by refreshing content and addressing specific negative feedback.
- Prioritize by urgency: apply the pricing fix immediately given the expiration deadline, running the others in parallel.
What a strong answer includes
- Pairs each cause with a specific, actionable solution instead of a generic list with no fixes attached.
- Prioritizes the time-sensitive pricing fix given the hard expiration deadline, showing urgency awareness.
- Separates a short-term fix for this batch from a longer-term sourcing decision about the brand.
- Covers genuinely distinct causes (pricing, visibility, demand fit, listing quality), not variations of one idea.
Common mistakes
- Listing only one or two generic causes without the requested breadth or paired fixes.
- Ignoring the urgency of expiring stock and treating all fixes as equally low-priority.
- Not separating fixing this batch from fixing the ordering process going forward.
Likely follow-up questions
- Which cause would you investigate first, and how fast?
- How would you decide whether to keep reordering this brand?
- How would you balance write-off avoidance against price perception?
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Learn the skill behind it
Chapters of the AI PM course that teach what this question tests.
- Chapter 9: Prove it paid off: outcomes, economics, and pricing
- Chapter 2: Data fluency: SQL, logs, and reading the truth yourself
- Chapter 14: Get the job: the AI PM interview loop