MO221 Interview Questions Guide
Writing Interview Questions: Overviewâs
Before you begin writing Interview Questions for your team to ask managers in your chosen
organization, please review the section of the Team Project Assignment that provides guidelines for
writing questions. To find it, navigate to the section of the document labeled Interview Process (under
Additional Resources) in the document outline.
Keep in mind that the most successful interview for this assignment is a conversation. You want to
allow time and space for natural follow-up questions, which is why the number and type of questions
you ask is very important. Watch this video for some tips for successful conversations.
Writing Interview Questions: Checklist
Below is a checklist for your reference when writing interview questions. These are the things your TA
or instructor will be looking for to approve your questions.
Please do NOT begin interviewing without feedback and approval from your teaching team!
Once you have written your draft questions, use this list to make sure they will get you the information
you need to write a great paper:
Questions are tailored to the chosen company and/or industry
Questions are clearly focused on 2-3 MO Topics and corresponding management practices
(and no more)
Questions are organized according to the 2-3 MO Topics/Management practices
Students plan to ask no more than 5-7 questions per interview, leaving time and space to
prioritize follow up questions
Students should ask the same (or similar) questions across all interviews
Questions are sophisticated (could not be easily answered by the company website, LinkedIn,
or from a quick Google search)
Questions are informed by your preliminary research into the company (including history, recent
news, etc.)
Questions include requests for examples and anecdotes whenever possible
Questions are not too specific, and allow the interviewee to decide what to share
Students are planning to ask some of the same (or similar) questions across all interviews
Questions are tailored to each specific interviewee’s position in the company where appropriate
Questions are open-ended (not yes/no questions)
Questions are largely not simply opinion-based and get at lived experiences rather than simply
management philosophies
Questions are not likely to make the interviewee feel uncomfortable (i.e. revealing personal or
proprietary information)
Questions generated using AI are cited
Writing Interview Questions: Using AI
This part of the guide will help you write better interview questions using the technology we have
available to us in the form of generative AI (TerrierGPT, CoPilot, ChatGPT, Claude, etc).
First, as Ethan Mollick, Associate Professor at the Wharton School (UPenn) wrote, it may be helpful to
approach using generative AI for this task “as if it was a messaging app that connected you to a very
smart, somewhat naive, slightly alien, well-educated gig worker.”
In other words, you will need to give clear prompts and enough information about what you are looking
for in order to get good results!
Here is a suggested process to follow to use generative AI to your advantage:
Step 1: Start with a prompt that captures both the industry of your actual or intended company and your
MO Topic areas of interest (note: find a list of potential management practice topic areas at the end of
the Team Project Assignment sheet!)
Example:
Step 2: Ask to refine/add questions based on more specific interests under the given topic.
Example:
Step 3: Refine questions based on assignment parameters.
Examples:
Step 4: Choose the most appropriate and interesting questions, and start over with your next MO221
topic of study.
Step 5: Refine all questions using preliminary company research, including specific interviewee
position and credentials where possible.
Step 6: Cite any questions generated using AI to avoid Academic Integrity Violations, and submit to
your instructor and/or TA via Blackboard. Make sure to use the Checklist on the first page to make sure
your questions meet the assignment criteria!