PM Interview Question → The Facebook Stories engineering team has proposed doubling the height of the Stories widget. As the PM, what are the potential pros and cons of this change?

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Bootcamp

7 min readOct 25, 2024

When the Facebook Stories engineering team approached me with the proposal to double the height of the Stories widget, I knew this was more than a simple UI adjustment. It was an opportunity to potentially enhance user engagement but also a decision that could significantly impact the user experience and business objectives.

As a Product Manager, my role is to evaluate such proposals critically and methodically. I needed to consider the potential benefits, anticipate the drawbacks, and ensure that any change aligns with our users’ needs and the company’s goals.

In this post, I’ll walk through my thought process using a structured framework that not only applies to this situation but can also be leveraged for future product decisions. This approach ensures that we make informed, data-driven choices that serve both our users and our business effectively.

Framework for Analysis

Clarify Objectives and Context
Analyze User Impact
Assess Business Implications
Evaluate Technical and Design Feasibility
Consider Risks and Mitigations
Recommend Next Steps

1. Clarify Objectives and Context

Understanding the ‘Why’

Before diving into the analysis, it’s essential to understand the motivation behind the proposal:

Increase User Engagement: Is the goal to boost interaction with Stories by making them more prominent?
Highlight New Features: Are there new functionalities within Stories that need more visibility?
Competitive Response: Is this a strategic move to keep up with competitors like Snapchat and Instagram?

Data-Driven Insights

User Feedback: Have users indicated that the current Stories widget is too small or easily overlooked?
Engagement Metrics: Are we seeing a plateau or decline in Stories usage that this change aims to address?

Understanding these factors helps align the analysis with overarching strategic goals.

2. Analyze User Impact

Pros

Enhanced Visibility : A larger widget naturally draws more attention. This could lead to:

Increased Click-Through Rates: More users might tap on Stories, boosting engagement.
Discovery of Content: Users might explore Stories they would have otherwise missed.

Improved User Experience

Richer Previews: More space allows for larger thumbnails or snippets, giving users a better sense of the content before engaging.
Ease of Interaction: A bigger touch area can make it easier for users to interact, especially on smaller devices.

Cons

Screen Real Estate Competition

Content Displacement: Doubling the widget’s height means less space for the News Feed and other features.
User Interface Clutter: An oversized widget could make the interface feel crowded.

Potential User Frustration

Intrusiveness: Users primarily interested in the News Feed might find the larger Stories widget obstructive.
Navigation Challenges: More scrolling may be required to reach desired content.

Balancing User Segments

It’s important to consider:

Diverse User Preferences: Not all users interact with Stories; some may prioritize other features.
Accessibility Considerations: How will this change affect users with disabilities or those using assistive technologies?

3. Assess Business Implications

Pros

Revenue Opportunities

Increased Ad Impressions: More engagement with Stories could lead to higher advertising revenue from Story ads.
Monetization of New Features: Enhanced visibility might promote new monetizable features within Stories.

Competitive Advantage
Market Positioning: Strengthening Stories could help Facebook retain users who might be swayed by competitors.

Cons

Potential Revenue Cannibalization

Shift in Engagement: Users might spend less time on the News Feed, potentially affecting ad revenues linked to it.

Resource Allocation

Opportunity Cost: Investing time and resources into this change might delay other strategic initiatives.

Strategic Alignment

Long-Term Goals: Does enhancing Stories support the company’s vision for user engagement and platform growth?
Stakeholder Expectations: How will investors and partners perceive this shift in focus?

4. Evaluate Technical and Design Feasibility

Pros

Technical Simplicity

Ease of Implementation: Adjusting the size of an existing widget may require minimal coding changes.

Cons

Design Challenges

Consistency: Ensuring the enlarged widget integrates seamlessly with the current design language.
Aesthetic Appeal: Avoiding a disproportionate or unbalanced interface.

Performance Implications

Load Times: A larger widget may increase data usage and loading times, affecting users with slower connections.
Device Compatibility: Ensuring optimal performance across various devices and screen sizes.

Collaboration with Teams

Design Team Input: Iterative design and user testing to refine the widget’s look and feel.
Engineering Considerations: Assessing backend implications and scalability.

5. Consider Risks and Mitigations

Risks

Negative User Reception

Adoption Resistance: Users may push back against significant UI changes.
Potential Churn: Dissatisfied users might reduce their time on the platform or switch to competitors.

Unintended Consequences

Feature Neglect: Other valuable features might receive less attention, affecting overall engagement metrics.

Mitigation Strategies

A/B Testing

Controlled Rollout: Introduce the change to a small percentage of users to gather data.
Metric Analysis: Monitor engagement, retention, and satisfaction levels.

User Feedback Mechanisms

Surveys and Focus Groups: Collect qualitative data on user perceptions.
Feedback Buttons: Allow users to provide immediate reactions to the change.

Incremental Implementation

Gradual Scaling: Slowly increase the widget size over time to acclimate users.
Customization Options: Offer settings for users to adjust the widget size according to their preference.

6. Recommend Next Steps

Data-Driven Decision Making

Pilot Program
Implement the enlarged widget for a select group and analyze the impact over a defined period.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Engagement Metrics: Track changes in Story views, taps, and time spent.
User Retention: Monitor if the change affects daily and monthly active users.
Revenue Impact: Assess any shifts in ad impressions and clicks.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Design and UX Teams

Work together to refine the widget’s appearance and ensure it enhances the user experience.

Marketing and Communications

Prepare messaging to explain the change to users, highlighting benefits.

Engineering and QA

Ensure technical readiness and address any potential bugs or performance issues.

Explore Alternatives

Partial Size Increase : Test a moderate increase in height to find a balance between visibility and interface space.
Content Enhancement :Instead of changing the size, enrich the content within the existing widget to attract attention.

Applying the Framework to Other Product Decisions

This structured approach isn’t limited to evaluating widget size changes. It can be applied broadly:

Clarify Objectives and Context : Always begin by understanding the underlying reasons for any proposed change.
Analyze User Impact : Assess how different user segments will be affected, considering both positive and negative outcomes.
Assess Business Implications : Align the change with business goals, revenue models, and competitive strategies.
Evaluate Technical and Design Feasibility: Ensure that the team has the capacity and resources to implement the change effectively.
Consider Risks and Mitigations : Identify potential pitfalls early and develop plans to address them.
Recommend Next Steps : Provide actionable recommendations supported by data and cross-team collaboration.

Example Scenario: Removing a Low-Usage Feature

Clarify Objectives: Determine if the goal is to streamline the app or focus resources elsewhere.
Analyze User Impact: Identify if a niche user base relies heavily on the feature.
Assess Business Implications: Consider cost savings versus the risk of alienating loyal users.
Evaluate Feasibility: Ensure removal won’t disrupt other functionalities.
Consider Risks: Prepare for backlash and have a communication plan.
Recommend Next Steps: Suggest a phased removal with ample user notification.

Wrapping up!

Doubling the height of Facebook’s Stories widget is a significant change that could offer substantial benefits but also poses notable risks. By employing a structured framework, we can thoroughly assess the proposal from all angles, ensuring that decisions are made in the best interest of both users and the business.

As Product Managers, our role is to bridge the gap between technical possibilities and user needs, all while steering the product towards strategic objectives. Whether evaluating UI changes or considering feature additions, a methodical approach enables us to make informed, data-driven decisions.

Thanks for reading! If you’ve got ideas to contribute to this conversation please comment. If you like what you read and want to see more, clap me some love! Follow me here, or connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter.

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