← Microsoft Interview Insights
Bit of an odd one for a BA interview but I rolled with it.
Frame your answer around empathy, data, and collaboration: first seek to understand the root cause, then address it directly with the individual, and escalate only if necessary. Emphasize that as a PM, your role is to enable the team's success, not to manage engineers, so you'd partner with their manager and focus on removing blockers.
Pro tip: Avoid sounding like you're policing engineers; instead, position yourself as a partner who helps align expectations and unblock work. Mention that you'd document impact on project goals and use that as a neutral basis for conversation.
Collect specific examples of missed commitments or quality issues, and check if there are external factors like unclear requirements or personal challenges. Speak with other team members to get a balanced view without gossiping.
Have a private, non-confrontational conversation with the engineer to understand their perspective and any blockers. Listen actively and avoid accusations; focus on shared goals.
Reiterate the team's goals and the engineer's role, and ask what support they need to succeed. Offer to remove obstacles, provide resources, or adjust scope if appropriate.
If the issue persists, loop in the engineer's manager with documented observations and a focus on solutions. Collaborate on a plan rather than dictating actions.
Monitor progress, provide feedback, and recognize improvements. If no change, support the manager in taking further steps, always keeping team health and project success in mind.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.