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Samsung·Data Scientist·Technical Phone Screen·Senior

SeniorPrefer not to say
May 2026

Summary

Samsung data scientist interview with a meaty case question about sizing a retail parking lot. More open-ended than I expected, less coding, more structured thinking under pressure.

Questions Asked (1)

Q1

A big-box retailer wants to build a customer parking lot next to one of its stores. What data would you collect and how would you use it to recommend the right parking capacity?

Product Analytics & MetricsProduct Sense & IdeationTechnical Trade-offs
Author's notes

This one sprawled in every direction.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Start by clarifying the business objective and constraints, then outline the data collection plan covering demand, supply, and operational factors. Use a combination of historical data, surveys, and simulations to model parking demand and recommend capacity that balances customer satisfaction with cost efficiency.

Pro tip: Emphasize the importance of peak demand and turnover rates, and suggest a phased approach to capacity planning to avoid overbuilding. Mention that you would validate assumptions with A/B testing or pilot programs.

1. Clarify Objectives and Constraints

Understand the retailer's goals (e.g., minimize customer wait times, maximize lot utilization) and constraints (budget, space, regulations).

2. Identify Data Sources

List internal data (sales, foot traffic, loyalty programs) and external data (demographics, competitor parking, traffic patterns) to collect.

3. Model Parking Demand

Use historical data and surveys to estimate arrival rates, dwell times, and peak periods; build a simulation or queuing model to predict required capacity.

4. Evaluate Trade-offs and Recommend Capacity

Analyze cost-benefit trade-offs of different capacity levels, considering customer satisfaction and ROI; recommend an optimal capacity with a buffer for variability.

5. Validate and Iterate

Propose a pilot or phased implementation to test the recommendation and refine the model based on real-world feedback.

Key Points to Mention

  • Peak demand analysis and turnover rates
  • Customer arrival patterns and dwell time distributions
  • Competitor parking availability and local regulations
  • Cost of construction vs. potential revenue loss from insufficient parking
  • Use of simulation (e.g., Monte Carlo) or queuing theory
  • Phased approach and validation through pilot testing

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