A quick sample system design scenario

🏗️ System Design Scenario: Design a Community Engagement Tracking Platform

🎯 Goal:

Build a web-based internal tool to help Microsoft Product Managers and Community Leads track, manage, and analyze their community engagements at scale.

🧩 Key Requirements:

  • User Authentication (internal PMs, moderators)

  • Ability to create/edit engagements (e.g., events, surveys, discussions)

  • Store feedback from community members

  • View analytics dashboards: number of engagements, satisfaction scores, trending topics

  • Role-based access: only PMs can edit, moderators can view/manage

  • Search & filter engagements

  • Export reports (CSV/Excel)

🔧 Design Outline

1. Frontend

  • Built using React (or Power Pages, depending on how low-code you want to go)

  • Pages:

    • Engagement List + Filters

    • Engagement Detail View

    • Feedback Submission Form

    • Analytics Dashboard

2. Backend

  • Use Azure Functions / App Services for REST APIs

  • Handle:

    • CRUD for engagements

    • Form submissions

    • User management

  • Use Power Automate to trigger:

    • Email alerts

    • Auto-reminders for unreviewed feedback

3. Database

  • Dataverse (as a default backend for Power Pages)

    • Tables:

      • Engagement

      • Feedback

      • User

    • Or use Azure SQL Database if going full custom backend

4. Authentication

  • Azure Active Directory (AAD)

  • Role-based access control through Dataverse or custom logic

5. Analytics

  • Use Kusto/Azure Data Explorer or Power BI Embedded

  • Track metrics:

    • Engagement volume by region/product

    • Feedback sentiment trends

    • Engagements with high participation

6. Security & Compliance

  • Data encryption at rest and in transit

  • Audit logs for changes (especially feedback edits/deletions)

  • Permission granularity via web roles

🔁 Bonus Extensions

  • Add tagging and sentiment analysis to feedback using Azure Cognitive Services

  • Create a mobile-friendly view or Power App companion

🧠 In the Interview: Talk About

  • Trade-offs: Power Pages for speed vs. custom React for flexibility

  • How you'd ensure scalability if community engagements grow massively

  • Handling access control, performance optimization, and data integrity

  • Your approach to gathering requirements and iterating based on feedback

PreviousMock interview questions for each round

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