Can you describe a situation where you executed a technical implementation successfully despite facing major obstacles?

This question is asking you to describe a specific situation where you successfully implemented a technical solution, even when faced with significant challenges. The interviewer is trying to assess your problem-solving skills, technical abilities, resilience, adaptability, and your capability to handle pressure.

When answering, be sure to:

1. Specify the technical implementation: Explain what the project was, what technology or process was involved, and what your role was.
2. Describe the obstacles: Explain what the problems were, why they were significant, and why typical solutions didn't apply.
3. Detail how you overcame the obstacles: Describe the steps you took, who you worked with, and how you used your technical skills to find a solution.
4. State the results: Mention how successful the project was after your implementation and quantify the success if possible.

In my previous role as a software developer at XYZ Company, our team was tasked with migrating our legacy systems to newer, more efficient ones. This project was critical as it had a direct impact on our day-to-day operations. The biggest obstacle was that the old system had been in place for over a decade with lots of undocumented tweaks and modifications which made it difficult to replicate the functionality directly.

My first step was to document the old system's primary functions. I attempted to work back up the source code to understand the purpose and functionality of each module. This was a significant effort as it involved working with different teams and piecing together information from several sources, including old code comments and institutional knowledge from long-time employees.

Once I had a complete picture of the system, I designed the transition plan, ensuring minimal disruption. I also communicated the plan to the team and coordinated the actual migration process. Although it was stressful, we accomplished the migration successfully and on time. Post-migration, we saw 30% increased efficiency in our operations and a 50% reduction in system downtime.

At my previous job within ABC Software, I was responsible for the implementation of a complex security software across our entire network, involving multiple servers, hundreds of desktops, and several high-level security requirements. The primary obstacle was the complexity of the security software itself and pressure from the company executives to maintain business continuity without any interruption.

I drafted an implementation strategy which involved rolling out the security updates in phases for different parts of the network. I also planned several tests before and after each phase to ensure that the software was working correctly and the networks were still functioning as expected.

It was a large task that took months to get right, but in the end, we had a more secure system. Plus, we saw a 70% drop in security incidents, and as an added bonus, the project was completed two weeks early because of the efficient implementation strategy.