How do you resolve conflicting product requirements? What or who determines which requirement takes the hit?

The interviewer is asking this question to establish how you approach conflict resolution, particularly when it pertains to conflicting product requirements. Two key areas to focus on here are your problem-solving abilities and your negotiation skills. They want to assess how well you prioritize in complex situations, who you involve in decision-making processes, how you collaborate with others to solve problems, and ultimately how you handle conflicts. The second part of the question is aimed at understanding your perspective on responsibility and accountability.

In my previous role at XYZ Company, I often had to deal with conflicting product requirements. I believe the key in such situations is effective communication and negotiation. Understanding each team's biases and their unique perspectives is important. I would assess the potential impact of each requirement, the effort required and the potential benefits. Once that was clear, I would arrange a meeting with all involved parties to discuss the potential directions we could take. It's crucial to respect everyone’s opinion and come to a consensus to move forward.

As for who takes the hit, in a perfect world, this would be determined by a collective decision. However, ultimately the final decision lies with the Product Owner or someone in a similar leadership role. But, I firmly believe that it is a joint responsibility of the team to implement the decision and manage the impact.

During my time working in product development, I've encountered a lot of situations with conflicting product requirements. When faced with this, I would begin by identifying the conflicts, then analyze each requirement on the basis of client or business needs, potential return on investment, legal obligations, etc. It's all about finding the best possible solution with a balance of limited resources and deadlines in mind.

However, deciding who or what requirement 'takes the hit’ is a collective decision based on communication and collaboration between teams. Ultimately, this decision rests with senior leadership or a Product Owner who understands the wider implications for the business. But as a part of the team, we all share the task of managing any negative impact that may arise.