{"id":"fpa-opex-forecast-flash-email","audience":"fpa","category":"finance-work","track":"finance","technique":"audience","level":"beginner","title":"Write a short opex forecast flash note for the COO","free":false,"task":"You're sending a quick forecast update to Ines, the COO. Write a prompt for a plain-text note that starts with \"Hi Ines,\" and has three lines starting \"Where we are:\", \"Why:\" and \"Watch:\", then ends with a last line \"Rae\". Under 85 words. Mark anything not confirmed as unconfirmed. No recommendations. No bullets or numbering.","materialLabel":"Forecast revision notes (attached to your prompt automatically)","material":"Q4 OPEX FORECAST REVISION - Pinecrest Software (Nov 5, 2026)\n\nPrevious Q4 opex forecast (Sep): $8.4M\nRevised Q4 opex forecast (Nov): $8.1M\n\nDrivers of the $0.3M reduction:\n- Hiring: four planned hires slipped from Oct to Jan, saving $240K\n- Travel: reduced conference travel, saving $60K\n\nHR says offers for the four hires could be made in December if candidates are found, which might pull some cost back into Q4. That is not confirmed. No offers are out.\n\nThe CFO, Rae, is sending this note.\nThe COO asked last week 'are we going to hit the $8.2M cap?'","rules":[{"type":"plainText"},{"type":"maxWords","max":85},{"type":"maxBullets","max":0}],"promptHints":[{"label":"Names the greeting and lines","patterns":["hi ines","where we are","why:","watch:"]},{"label":"Asks for the change math","patterns":["percent","3\\.6%","change"]},{"label":"Asks for the driver sum","patterns":["sum","\\$240k"]},{"label":"Labels the risk","patterns":["unconfirmed"]},{"label":"Caps length","patterns":["\\d+\\s*words","plain"]}],"mistakes":[{"title":"Missing the sum","why":"The AI lists the drivers without showing they add to $300K.","fix":"Add: \"Show $240K + $60K = $300K.\"","checks":["r1"]},{"title":"Stating the hiring risk as fact","why":"The AI says offers will be made in December.","fix":"Add: 'Label the hiring risk \"unconfirmed\".'","checks":["r2"]},{"title":"Greeting and sign-off wrong","why":"The AI starts with 'Dear COO' or signs 'Finance'.","fix":"Say: 'Start with \"Hi Ines,\" and end with the line \"Rae\".'","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":"A flash note has a fixed shape and a risk that is not yet confirmed. Give the labels, the sum and the sign-off.","rubricLabels":["The note starts with \"Hi Ines,\" and the line starting \"Where we are:\" shows $8.4M to $8.1M, down $0.3M (3.6%)","The line starting \"Why:\" shows $240K hiring + $60K travel = $300K","The line starting \"Watch:\" says hiring could pull cost back into Q4 but is unconfirmed, and the note ends with the line \"Rae\" with no recommendation"]}