{"id":"exec-capex-buy-versus-lease-board-rule","audience":"executives","category":"leadership-work","track":"leadership","level":"advanced","technique":"verification","title":"Test buy and lease options against a board rule in a capex memo","free":false,"task":"Write a capital request memo in plain text, under 150 words, with four labeled lines: Ask:, Purchase:, Lease:, Recommendation:. Purchase and Lease each show the working and then pass or fail against the board rule (payback within 36 months AND cash stays at or above $2.0M). For Lease, show the monthly saving after the lease payment instead of payback. Recommendation names one option and one reason. Use only the numbers in the notes.","materialLabel":"Request notes (attached to your prompt automatically)","material":"Capital request - packaging line upgrade\n\nThe machine costs $1,200,000 to buy.\nIt saves $40,000 per month in labor and waste.\nCash today: $3.1M.\n\nLease alternative: $28,000 per month for 48 months, no upfront payment. The same $40,000 per month in savings applies. Total lease payments over 48 months: $1,344,000.\n\nBoard rule: investments must pay back within 36 months, and cash must stay at or above $2.0M after any purchase.\n\nThe plant manager says the machine is \"a no-brainer\" and the supplier's brochure claims payback in 18 months (assumes savings of $67,000 per month, not supported by our data).","rules":[{"type":"maxWords","max":150},{"type":"plainText"}],"mistakes":[{"title":"Checking payback only","why":"The AI approves the purchase on 30 months.","fix":"Say: \"Test both parts of the board rule, payback and the cash floor.\"","checks":["r1"]},{"title":"Using the supplier claim","why":"The AI quotes 18 months.","fix":"Say: \"Use only the numbers in the notes.\"","checks":["r2"]},{"title":"No working","why":"The AI states results without arithmetic.","fix":"Say: \"Show the working for each option.\"","checks":["r1"]},{"title":"Wrong structure","why":"The AI writes headings and a long analysis.","fix":"Say: \"Four labeled lines: Ask:, Purchase:, Lease:, Recommendation:.\"","checks":["r0"]},{"title":"Markdown","why":"The AI bolds the verdicts.","fix":"Say: \"Plain text.\"","checks":["plainText"]},{"title":"Trusting the AI to count words","why":"AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it.","fix":"Cap each part instead, for example: \"each line under 15 words.\"","checks":["maxWords"]}],"promptHints":[{"label":"Four labels","patterns":["ask:","purchase:","lease:","recommendation:"]},{"label":"Both parts of the rule","patterns":["36 months","\\$2\\.0m","cash"]},{"label":"Show the working","patterns":["working","/ \\$","payback"]},{"label":"Lease monthly saving","patterns":["monthly saving","after the lease"]},{"label":"Only the notes","patterns":["only the numbers","ignore","supplier"]}],"hint":"Name the four lines, state both board tests, and say how to treat the lease.","rubricLabels":["Has four lines starting Ask:, Purchase:, Lease: and Recommendation: in that order","Purchase shows payback of $1,200,000 / $40,000 = 30 months (pass) but cash of $3.1M - $1.2M = $1.9M (fail the $2.0M floor); Lease shows a saving of $40,000 - $28,000 = $12,000 per month with no upfront cash","Recommendation names the lease and gives one reason (it keeps cash above $2.0M), and the supplier's 18-month claim is not used"]}