{"id":"ops-obsolete-stock-writeoff-questions-for-finance","audience":"operations","category":"operations-work","track":"operations","technique":"grounding","level":"advanced","title":"Frame a stock write-off as questions for Finance","free":false,"task":"Write a prompt for a memo to Finance with exactly three headings: Facts, Questions for Finance and Not decided. Facts shows the value as math. Do not say how the write-off should be booked or approved; those are Finance's calls. Under 150 words.","materialLabel":"Your material (attached to your prompt automatically)","material":"PROPOSAL FROM OPS - write off discontinued item P-880\n\nInventory on hand: 640 units at standard cost $28.75 each. No sales or usage in the last 14 months. The product was discontinued in September.\nService department says up to 90 units might still be usable as spare parts for the customer service program; they have not confirmed a need in writing.\nA scrap dealer quoted $1,100 for the whole lot if all 640 units are scrapped.\nStorage: the units take up 12 pallet positions at a cost of $18 per pallet position per month.\n\nPolicy note: write-offs over $10,000 require Controller approval. Scrap proceeds are recorded by Accounting.\n\nThe ops manager's note: \"Just scrap them, they're taking up space.\" Ops cannot decide the accounting treatment, the approval path or whether any units are retained; Finance and the Controller decide. Nothing has been decided yet.","rules":[{"type":"maxWords","max":150}],"promptHints":[{"label":"Names the headings","patterns":["facts","questions for finance","not decided"]},{"label":"Shows the value math","patterns":["640 x","28\\.75","18,400","show the math"]},{"label":"Keeps to questions","patterns":["questions only","do not say","do not recommend"]},{"label":"Includes the unconfirmed units","patterns":["90 units","spare"]},{"label":"Sets a length limit","patterns":["\\d+\\s*words","word (limit|count)","under \\d+"]}],"mistakes":[{"title":"Recommending scrapping","why":"The AI follows the ops manager's note.","fix":"Say: \"Do not recommend scrapping or say how to book it.\"","checks":["r2"]},{"title":"Value without math","why":"The AI states $18,400 without the working.","fix":"Say: \"Show the value as 640 x 28.75 = 18,400.\"","checks":["r1"]},{"title":"Dropping the spare-part units","why":"The AI treats all 640 as obsolete.","fix":"Say: \"Include the possible 90 spare-part units as unconfirmed.\"","checks":["r1"]},{"title":"Wrong headings","why":"The AI writes its own sections.","fix":"Name the three headings in order.","checks":["r0"]},{"title":"Trusting the AI to count words","why":"AI is bad at counting and usually runs long, so a vague \"keep it short\" lands over the limit.","fix":"Cap each part instead of the total, for example \"each line under 15 words\".","checks":["maxWords"]}],"hint":"Name the headings, show the value as math and keep the questions from deciding anything.","mission":"Ask Finance the right questions about writing off obsolete stock.","musts":["Show value as math","Don't say how to book","Three exact headings"],"rubricLabels":["The memo has exactly three headings Facts, Questions for Finance and Not decided in that order","Facts shows the value as 640 x 28.75 = 18,400 and includes the 14 months without use, the possible 90 spare-part units and the $1,100 scrap quote","Questions for Finance asks about retaining units, the Controller approval path over $10,000 and how scrap proceeds are recorded, and nothing says how the write-off should be booked or that the units should be scrapped"]}