{"id":"lead-strategy-two-options-recommendation","audience":"executives","category":"leadership-work","track":"leadership","level":"intermediate","technique":"constraints","title":"Write a decision memo that compares two options and recommends one","free":false,"task":"Write a one-page decision memo for the leadership team, in plain text, under 200 words. Use these labeled sections in order: Decision, Option A, Option B, Recommendation. The Recommendation line starts with \"I recommend\" and names one option. Show the cost math for each option in its section and use only numbers from the notes. Flag one open question for Finance at the end.","materialLabel":"Notes on the regional expansion decision (attached to your prompt automatically)","material":"Decision: How to serve the Northeast region next year.\n\nOption A: Open our own office in Boston.\n- Lease $9,000/month, 12-month minimum. Hire 3 reps at $95,000 each (salary only).\n- Sales expect first revenue in month 5.\n\nOption B: Use a reseller partner (Altus Group).\n- Altus takes 22% of revenue. No lease, no hires.\n- Altus's own forecast: $1.4M in year 1 revenue. Our team thinks that is optimistic; our internal estimate is $0.9M.\n- Contract can be ended with 60 days' notice.\n\nOther: The CEO said she prefers fast, low-risk moves. Our target is $500k net contribution from the region in year 1.\nFinance has not said whether the reps' benefits cost should be included in Option A.","rules":[{"type":"maxWords","max":200},{"type":"plainText"}],"mistakes":[{"title":"Missing the structure","why":"The AI writes flowing paragraphs and bolds headings.","fix":"Say: \"Sections in order: Decision, Option A, Option B, Recommendation.\"","checks":["r0"]},{"title":"Skipping the math","why":"The AI says Option A is 'expensive' without numbers.","fix":"Say: \"Show the math for each option, like $9,000 x 12 = $108,000.\"","checks":["r1"]},{"title":"Hedged recommendation","why":"The AI says 'both have merit' and does not pick.","fix":"Say: \"Recommendation starts with 'I recommend' and picks one option.\"","checks":["r2"]},{"title":"Markdown formatting","why":"The AI bolds the headings.","fix":"Say: \"Plain text, no bold.\"","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 section: \"each section under 40 words.\"","checks":["maxWords"]},{"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 12 words.\"","checks":["maxWords"]}],"promptHints":[{"label":"Lists the sections","patterns":["decision.*option a","labeled","sections?"]},{"label":"Asks for the math","patterns":["math","calculation","show","cost"]},{"label":"Forces a pick","patterns":["i recommend","one option","pick"]},{"label":"Asks for a Finance flag","patterns":["finance","open question","flag"]},{"label":"Plain text","patterns":["plain text","no bold"]}],"hint":"Name the sections and the exact start of the recommendation, and ask for the math and one flagged question.","rubricLabels":["The memo has the labeled sections Decision, Option A, Option B and Recommendation, in that order","Option A shows the cost math (lease $9,000 x 12 = $108,000; 3 x $95,000 = $285,000) and Option B shows 22% of revenue using the internal $0.9M estimate (about $198,000) rather than only Altus's $1.4M","The Recommendation line starts with \"I recommend\" and names exactly one option, and the memo ends with an open question for Finance about benefits cost"]}