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Custom Build vs Platform Capability

HardProduct Sense00:00
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Your question is Custom Build vs Platform Capability. Take a moment with it on the right.

Talk me through your thinking if you like. When you're confident, submit your answer and I'll grade it like a real screen (7/10 or better passes).

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Problem

Scenario

You're working on a B2B software product where a large customer is asking for a solution tailored to their workflow. Some people see it as a strategic account need, while others think the team should spend that time building something reusable for more customers.

Question

How do you decide whether to invest engineering time in a customer-specific solution versus a reusable capability?

What this tests

  • Ability to identify the underlying job to be done behind a customer request
  • Judgment on feature prioritization in an enterprise product
  • Trade-off thinking between short-term revenue and long-term platform health
  • Use of explicit success criteria to justify the decision