What is the best framework for product improvement questions?

A reliable framework has six steps: understand the product and its goals, identify user segments, find pain points for a chosen segment, prioritize the most important problems, propose two to three solutions, and define success metrics.

Should I pick a big change or a small improvement?

Aim for a meaningful improvement that is feasible, not a complete redesign. A focused feature improvement is usually stronger than proposing an entirely new product direction.

How do I answer for a product I do not use?

Be honest, then leverage first principles. Define what the product does, who uses it, and their core goals. Ask clarifying questions. Your analytical process matters more than personal familiarity.

How many solutions should I propose?

Propose two to three solutions, briefly describe each, then pick one to go deeper on. This shows breadth while demonstrating ability to commit and flesh out details.

How to Answer 'Improve This Product' Questions in PM Interviews (2026)

Published February 15, 2026

"How would you improve this product?" is one of the most common questions in product manager interviews. The improve product interview question tests your ability to think critically about existing products, identify meaningful opportunities, and propose practical solutions. If you are preparing for PM interviews, mastering this question type is essential.

This guide gives you a repeatable framework, walks through three complete examples, and highlights common mistakes. For broader PM interview preparation, see our complete product manager interview guide.

Why Interviewers Ask Product Improvement Questions

This question evaluates user empathy, analytical thinking, creativity, prioritization, and communication simultaneously. The interviewer is not looking for a specific flaw. They want to see how you think.

The Product Improvement Framework

Step 1: Understand the Product (2 minutes)

State what it does, who it serves, and its primary goals. Ask 1-2 clarifying questions about scope.

Step 2: Identify User Segments (2 minutes)

List 3-4 segments, choose one, and explain why. "All users" is not useful.

Step 3: Find Pain Points (3 minutes)

Identify 3-4 pain points: functional, emotional, social, or efficiency-related.

Step 4: Prioritize (2 minutes)

Choose the most important pain point using impact and feasibility criteria.

Step 5: Propose Solutions (4-5 minutes)

Generate 2-3 solutions. Select one to detail: describe the user experience, key design decisions, and tradeoffs.

Step 6: Define Success Metrics (2 minutes)

Primary metric tied to the problem, supporting metrics, and a guardrail metric. This connects to product sense interviews.

Example 1: Improve Instagram

Segment: Active creators (their content drives engagement for all segments).

Top pain point: Unpredictable algorithm makes reach feel random, reducing posting motivation.

Solution: Reach Insights Dashboard showing how the algorithm distributed content, comparison to recent averages, and actionable tips like "Reels under 30 seconds performed 40% better this week."

Metrics: Creator posting frequency (primary), creator retention, dashboard engagement. Guardrail: content quality scores.

Example 2: Improve Spotify

Segment: Passive listeners (largest segment, most at-risk for churning).

Top pain point: Discovery fatigue from repetitive recommendations.

Solution: Contextual Auto-Playlists using time of day, location, and history to generate a playlist that fits the moment. 60% familiar favorites, 40% new discoveries. Refreshes daily.

Metrics: Listening hours per passive user (primary), discovery rate, skip rate. Guardrail: premium churn rate.

Example 3: Improve Google Maps

Segment: Travelers in unfamiliar cities (highest intensity of use).

Top pain point: Multi-stop trip planning is cumbersome.

Solution: Smart Itinerary Builder. Add multiple destinations, see optimized route order, total estimated time, departure time suggestions, and limited-hours flags. Drag to reorder. Turn-by-turn navigation to next stop automatically.

Metrics: Multi-destination trip sessions (primary), average stops per trip, satisfaction rating. Guardrail: core navigation accuracy.

Common Mistakes

Skipping user segmentation: Always segment and choose.
Proposing a complete redesign: Pick one problem and solve it well.
Ignoring business goals: Align with engagement, revenue, or retention.
Not defining metrics: Always close with how you would measure success.
Picking a trivial problem: Choose something that meaningfully affects the user experience.

Practice Questions

"How would you improve WhatsApp?"
"How would you improve Uber Eats?"
"How would you improve LinkedIn?"
"How would you improve Notion?"
"How would you improve YouTube for creators?"
"How would you improve Duolingo?"
"How would you improve Airbnb for hosts?"

Product improvement questions connect to the broader PM case study interview format. As you refine your approach, make sure your PM resume reflects product thinking with examples of improvements you have shipped.