door dash interview job assessment

Part 1: Data Analysis

To answer the questions in this part of the assignment, you would first need to analyze the data from the spreadsheet provided. Below is a guide to help you work through the steps to answer each question:

1. Which product category has the most INF instances? How many instances were there?
   • Sort or filter the data by product category.
   • Count the number of INF instances for each category to determine which category has the most occurrences.
   • You can use Excel functions like COUNTIF or pivot tables to summarize the data and find the category with the highest INF instances.
2. Which associate (shopper) had the most INF instances? How many did they have?
   • Sort the data by the associate’s name or ID.
   • Calculate the total INF instances per associate by counting how many times an individual associate has triggered an INF.
   • Again, pivot tables or COUNTIF functions can help with this.
3. Which individual product had the most INF instances?
   • Sort or filter the data by individual product.
   • Use a similar counting method (pivot tables or COUNTIF) to determine which product has the most INF instances.
4. How did you find the answers for questions 1-3?
   • Explain your approach to analyzing the data, such as using Excel tools (sorting, pivot tables, or filtering), counting functions, and reviewing the dataset for patterns or anomalies.
5. What are some reasons that products might be marked INF?
   • Stocking issues: The product is out of stock or was not stocked properly in the warehouse.
   • Mislabeling: The product is in the system but the label doesn’t match what’s in the warehouse.
   • Scanning errors: The associate may have mistakenly marked an item as “Item Not Found” due to scanning issues.
   • Shelf location issues: The product might be in an incorrect location, making it difficult for the associate to find.
   • Customer request issues: The customer could have ordered a product that’s difficult to find, is niche, or has been discontinued.

Part 2: Project Planning

For this section, you are required to outline a plan to address the INF issue and reduce the percentage to the target goal over the next 4 weeks. Below is a detailed plan that you could present:

1. What questions would you have for your manager before kicking off this project?
   • Data Sources: Is there any more detailed data or insights about the specific INF instances (e.g., location, timing, or type of products)?
   • Resources: Are there any additional resources (like additional staff or new technology) available to help us reduce INF rates?
   • Team Expectations: What specific goals do we want the team to meet each week to track progress toward the 1.8% INF target?
   • Tools and Training: Are there any new tools or training we could implement to help associates perform better in reducing INF?
   • Customer Communication: How should we handle customer communication regarding INF incidents? Should we be more proactive in informing them about potential substitutes or stock issues?
2. How would you communicate this plan with your team and inspire them to work toward reducing INF?
   • Kickoff Meeting: Host a meeting to explain the goals, the importance of reducing INF, and how it impacts both customers and the business. Clearly explain the 1.8% target and the steps the team will take to achieve it.
   • Provide Incentives: Implement incentives such as recognition or small rewards for the top-performing associates who achieve the least number of INF incidents or improve the most.
   • Collaboration: Foster a team mentality by encouraging associates to share best practices, identify challenges, and find solutions together.
   • Clear Actionable Steps: Break down the project into smaller, manageable tasks. For example, ensure associates are using the Shopper App effectively, double-check stock levels regularly, and review proper labeling practices.
   • Ongoing Communication: Keep the team updated regularly through daily or weekly briefings, where you discuss progress and challenges and adjust tactics as necessary.
3. How would you track progress and measure success?
   • Weekly Data Reviews: Monitor INF data weekly, comparing current performance with the 1.8% target. Track trends in the product category, associate performance, and specific product issues to identify root causes.
   • KPIs: Track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as the overall INF rate, the number of INF incidents per associate, and INF incidents by product category. These metrics will guide decisions on where to focus efforts.
   • Team Feedback: Regularly check in with associates to gather qualitative feedback on challenges they face while picking orders or using the Shopper App.
4. What would you do if you noticed two weeks in that you weren’t improving toward the goal?
   • Identify Bottlenecks: Analyze the data to identify patterns. Are certain product categories or associates contributing disproportionately to the INF rate? Are there common themes or obstacles that could be addressed?
   • Provide Additional Training: If the problem is related to associates not using the tools effectively, offer additional training on how to use the Shopper App, locate items faster, and avoid marking items as INF unnecessarily.
   • Refine the Process: Revisit processes such as inventory management and stock accuracy to ensure that associates can reliably locate products. Consider implementing better systems to reduce stock-outs.
   • Adjust Targets or Tactics: If progress remains stagnant, it may be necessary to adjust the strategy or provide more resources to the team. Re-evaluate the goals and determine if incremental targets are more achievable in the short term.

This project plan should provide a solid foundation for tackling the INF issue and meeting the target over the next four weeks. It balances strategic thinking with practical action steps to ensure consistent progress and motivates the team toward achieving the goal.