Optimizing Slow Spreadsheet Workflows | Dataford Interview Questions

Describe a time you optimized a slow-running spreadsheet or data workflow.

Using the supplied workflow tables, write a SQL query that summarizes execution performance for active workflows and identifies workflows exceeding the duration target.

Output

One row per active workflow, including workflows with no runs
Columns: workflow_id, workflow_name, total_run_count, completed_run_count, avg_duration_seconds, failed_run_count, and performance_status
Set performance_status to NO DATA, SLOW, or WITHIN TARGET; a slow workflow has an average completed-run duration above 300 seconds
Order by workflow_id ascending

Schema

workflows

Column	Type	Description
workflow_idPK	INT	Unique workflow identifier
workflow_name	VARCHAR(150)	Name of the spreadsheet or data workflow
owner_team	VARCHAR(100)	Team responsible for the workflow
is_active	BOOLEAN	Whether the workflow is currently active

workflow_runs

Column	Type	Description
run_idPK	INT	Unique workflow run identifier
workflow_id	INT	Workflow executed by the run
started_at	TIMESTAMP	Run start timestamp
status	VARCHAR(20)	Execution status
duration_seconds	INT	Run duration in seconds

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Problem