{"id":"exec-launch-delay-options-decision-memo","audience":"executives","category":"leadership-work","track":"leadership","level":"advanced","technique":"constraints","title":"Write a launch decision memo with options, costs and one pick","free":false,"task":"Write a decision memo for the CEO in plain text, under 150 words, with these labels in order: Decision needed:, Options:, Recommendation:. Under Options: write exactly 3 dash lines, one each for A, B and C, each with its cost or risk using the latest figures. Recommendation: names the one option that has no contract penalty and zero open critical bugs, with a one-sentence reason. Show the penalty working, like \"4 weeks x $15k = $60k\".","materialLabel":"Launch status notes (attached to your prompt automatically)","material":"Project Harbor launch - status as of Dec 3\n\nContract: the customer contract requires go-live by Dec 15. After that, a penalty of $15k per week applies until go-live.\n\nEngineering (Nov 20): everything can ship Dec 15.\nQA (Nov 20): 12 open critical bugs. QA update (Dec 3): 5 open critical bugs, all in the reporting module.\n\nOptions on the table\nA. Ship everything on Dec 15 with the 5 open critical bugs and fix them after launch.\nB. Delay the full launch to Jan 12, after all bugs are fixed.\nC. Ship on Dec 15 without the reporting module, then add the module on Jan 12. The customer has said in writing they accept this.\n\nSales note: the CEO of the customer likes the reporting module most.\nEngineering also wants a week off over the holidays. Not a factor here.","rules":[{"type":"maxWords","max":150},{"type":"plainText"},{"type":"maxBullets","max":3}],"mistakes":[{"title":"Using the old bug count","why":"The AI quotes 12 critical bugs.","fix":"Say: \"Use the latest figures (the Dec 3 QA update).\"","checks":["r1"]},{"title":"No penalty working","why":"The AI says \"some penalty applies\".","fix":"Say: \"Show the working, like 4 weeks x $15k = $60k.\"","checks":["r1"]},{"title":"Choosing by gut","why":"The AI picks the fastest or safest option.","fix":"Say: \"Recommend the option with no penalty and zero open critical bugs.\"","checks":["r2"]},{"title":"Wrong structure","why":"The AI writes headings and paragraphs.","fix":"Say: \"Labels Decision needed:, Options:, Recommendation: and exactly 3 dash lines.\"","checks":["r0","maxBullets"]},{"title":"Markdown","why":"The AI uses bold and headings.","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":"Names the three labels","patterns":["decision needed:","options:","recommendation:"]},{"label":"Says latest figures","patterns":["latest","dec 3"]},{"label":"Asks for the working","patterns":["working","x \\$15k","penalty"]},{"label":"States the pick rule","patterns":["no (contract )?penalty","zero open"]},{"label":"Limits the dash lines","patterns":["exactly 3","3 dash"]}],"hint":"Name the three labels, say use the latest figures, and state the rule for the recommendation.","rubricLabels":["Has the labels Decision needed:, Options: and Recommendation: in that order, with exactly three dash lines under Options: for A, B and C","Option A cites the 5 open critical bugs (the latest count, not 12), and Option B shows the penalty working 4 weeks x $15k = $60k","Recommendation names Option C with a one-sentence reason (no penalty and no open critical bugs at launch) and does not mention the holidays"]}