This question is one of the most critical inquiries you can have before starting a new position. You must understand what happened to the previous person in this role so that any negative history does not repeat itself.

If this is a replacement search, the interviewer may not freely divulge why the last person did not work out. If they were relocated or promoted, that would be the best possible scenario. If they were terminated, you should be given an idea as to why this person failed in the role so that you can be set up for optimum success, fully understanding the expectations set out before you.

If this is a newly created position, you will want to dig further to ensure that this role is well laid-out with evident training, a stable career path, strong potential growth, and precise targets.