Kayak·Product Manager·Take-home Assignment·Senior

Senior

Jul 2026

Summary

Kayak PM case exercise where you're handed an anonymized dataset and have to turn it into a 5-slide deck covering user insights, a product solution, success metrics, risks, and a bonus enhancement idea. Pretty open-ended, which sounds freeing until you're staring at a blank slide one.

Questions Asked (1)

Given an anonymized dataset of user interactions on Kayak's booking site, build a 5-slide presentation that surfaces key user insights and pain points, proposes one data-backed product solution, defines 3-5 success metrics, identifies major risks and mitigations, and adds at least one enhancement idea beyond the original scope.

Product Analytics & MetricsProduct Sense & IdeationProduct Strategy

Author's notes

This is basically a mini product strategy case dressed up as a data exercise.

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Suggested Approach

Start by clarifying the dataset scope and business goal, then structure your 5-slide narrative around a clear problem statement derived from data. Focus on one high-impact pain point, propose a data-backed solution, and tie everything to measurable metrics and risks.

Pro tip: Anchor your solution in a specific user segment and quantify the opportunity size (e.g., 'X% of users abandon at step Y, representing $Z in potential revenue') to show business acumen.

1. Clarify and Scope

Ask clarifying questions about the dataset (e.g., time period, user segments, key events tracked) and the business objective (e.g., increase conversion, reduce support calls).

2. Analyze and Identify Insights

Explore the data to find patterns, anomalies, and pain points (e.g., drop-off points, low engagement features). Prioritize insights by potential impact.

3. Propose Solution and Metrics

Develop one data-backed product solution addressing the top pain point. Define 3-5 success metrics (e.g., conversion rate, task completion time) with clear targets.

4. Assess Risks and Enhancements

Identify major risks (e.g., technical feasibility, user adoption) and mitigations. Add one enhancement idea beyond the original scope to show forward thinking.

5. Structure the Presentation

Organize your findings into 5 slides: 1) Title & objective, 2) Key insights, 3) Proposed solution, 4) Success metrics, 5) Risks, mitigations, and enhancement.

Key Points to Mention

Data-driven prioritization: use quantitative evidence to select the pain point and solution.
User segmentation: tailor insights and solution to specific user groups (e.g., mobile vs. desktop, frequent vs. infrequent travelers).
Metric selection: choose metrics that are actionable, measurable, and aligned with business goals (e.g., conversion rate, average booking value).
Risk assessment: consider technical, operational, and user adoption risks with concrete mitigation strategies.
Enhancement idea: propose a complementary feature that extends the solution's value (e.g., personalized recommendations based on search history).
Business impact: quantify the potential ROI or revenue uplift from the proposed solution.

AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.