Strategy question

You are about to launch a new app that is of strategic importance for the company. 1 month out from launch internal dogfood suggests that the app isn't ready (you are below target on several key metrics including CSAT). What do you do?

Practice this question out loud. An AI interviewer asks it, follows up like a real interviewer would, and scores your answer. Type or speak.

What this question tests

Judgment under launch pressure: balancing a fixed deadline against real quality signals, a common high stakes PM decision.

Clarify which specific metrics are below target and by how much, since the severity determines the right response.
Assess the risk of launching as is: reputational damage and user churn if the app underdelivers publicly.
Assess the risk of delaying: lost market timing, cost, and internal credibility if the date slips.
Propose a middle path, such as a limited regional or beta launch instead of a full public rollout.
Recommend fixing the most severe CSAT driver before any broader release, even if the full launch date slips.
Define the decision criteria: a specific CSAT threshold that must be hit before expanding beyond the limited launch.

Investigates severity and root cause of the low metrics rather than reacting with a blanket delay or blanket launch.
Proposes a concrete middle path, a limited or regional launch, instead of an all or nothing decision.
Sets an explicit threshold, a target CSAT score, that must be met before scaling up further.
Weighs both risks honestly, reputational damage from launching poorly and cost of delay, rather than ignoring one side.

Recommends launching on schedule regardless of the dogfood signal, ignoring real quality risk.
Recommends delaying with no plan to actually fix the root cause of the low CSAT.

How would you communicate a delay decision to leadership who already announced the date?
What would you do if the root cause cannot be fixed within a reasonable timeframe?
How would you decide the size of the limited launch audience?