IntermediateBehavioral
5 min
Navigating a Cross-team Dependency Blocker
Cross-team CollaborationNegotiationPlanning
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Interview Question
Describe a time a critical dependency owned by another team blocked you. How did you unblock the work?
Key Points to Cover
- Identifies dependency and its impact
- Engages owners early with clear asks
- Explores workarounds and alternatives
- Drives resolution with shared plans
Evaluation Rubric
Quantifies blocker impact25% weight
Engages dependency owners25% weight
Explores alternative solutions25% weight
Drives resolution effectively25% weight
Hints
- 💡Bring supporting data when escalating.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- ⚠️Failing to identify the dependency and its impact early enough.
- ⚠️Vague or unspecific requests to the owning team.
- ⚠️Not involving the right stakeholders on the owning team (e.g., only talking to a junior engineer).
- ⚠️Giving up on finding workarounds and simply waiting passively.
- ⚠️Poor or absent communication after the initial outreach, leading to renewed delays.
Potential Follow-up Questions
- ❓How did you prevent similar blockers later?
- ❓What process changed?
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