{"id":"fpa-budget-cut-faq-managers","audience":"fpa","category":"finance-work","track":"finance","technique":"grounding","level":"intermediate","title":"Answer managers' questions about a budget trim without promises","free":false,"task":"You're sending four answers to department managers about the discretionary budget trim. Write a prompt for exactly four plain-text lines labeled \"A1:\" to \"A4:\", each under 22 words, using only the CFO's notes. Give exact new budgets where asked. Don't promise exceptions or a restoration of funds. Under 100 words in total. No bullets or numbering.","materialLabel":"CFO notes and four manager questions (attached to your prompt automatically)","material":"CFO notes - discretionary budget trim, Nov 2026\n\n- A 5% reduction applies to discretionary operating budgets for Dec 1 - Dec 31 2026 only (the final month of the year). It applies to marketing programs, travel and entertainment, and professional fees.\n- It does not apply to salaries, benefits, rent, software contracts or anything already under contract.\n- Current December budgets: Marketing programs $400,000; T&E $120,000; Professional fees $60,000.\n- Exceptions: a manager can submit the exception form to the CFO's office by Nov 20. The CFO reviews them but approval is not assured.\n- No decision has been made on what happens to the 2027 budgets. The CFO will decide after the January board meeting.\n\nMANAGER QUESTIONS\nQ1 (Rena): Does this reduce my team's salaries?\nQ2 (Omar): What is my new December marketing budget?\nQ3 (Kim): Can I get an exception for T&E, we have a client event?\nQ4 (Dev): Will the 5% be added back to our 2027 budget?","rules":[{"type":"plainText"},{"type":"maxWords","max":100},{"type":"maxBullets","max":0}],"promptHints":[{"label":"Sets the line labels","patterns":["a1","a4"]},{"label":"Asks for budget math","patterns":["5%","math","new budget"]},{"label":"Covers exceptions","patterns":["exception","form","nov 20"]},{"label":"Bans promises","patterns":["(do not|don'?t).*(promise)"]},{"label":"Caps length","patterns":["\\d+\\s*words","plain"]}],"mistakes":[{"title":"Promising restoration","why":"The AI reassures Dev that the 5% will return in 2027.","fix":"Add: \"Do not promise that funds will come back.\"","checks":["r2"]},{"title":"Guaranteeing an exception","why":"The AI tells Kim the client event will be exempted.","fix":"Say: \"Approval is not assured.\"","checks":["r1"]},{"title":"Wrong budget","why":"The AI trims the wrong number or forgets to show the new figure.","fix":"Add: \"Show the new budget as old budget less 5%.\"","checks":["r0"]},{"title":"Markdown extras","why":"The AI adds bold labels, headings and a closing note.","fix":"Say: \"Plain text, no bold. Output only the lines asked for.\"","checks":["plainText","maxBullets"]},{"title":"Trusting the AI to count words","why":"AI is bad at counting and runs past word limits.","fix":"Ask for fewer words than the real cap and keep each line short.","checks":["maxWords"]}],"hint":"Managers will read answers as commitments. Ask for exact numbers where known and for no promises elsewhere.","rubricLabels":["Has exactly four lines, each starting \"A1:\", \"A2:\", \"A3:\", \"A4:\" with no intro, and the line starting \"A1:\" says salaries are excluded while the line starting \"A2:\" gives the new marketing budget of $380,000 ($400,000 less 5%)","The line starting \"A3:\" says to submit the exception form by Nov 20 and that approval is not assured, without promising the exception","The line starting \"A4:\" says no decision has been made on 2027 budgets until after the January board meeting, and doesn't promise funds will be restored"]}