Reply to an exec about a metric you can't compute yet

About this exercise

Chief Operating Officer Marcus Bell asked for the return rate on the new product line, but returns aren't tracked by product line. Write a plain-text reply under 80 words: the first sentence says you can't give a reliable number yet and why, then say what you do know with its figures, then one specific next step with its owner and date. Don't estimate the return rate.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

• Estimating a rate. The AI offers 5.0% or 2.9% as the Fall return rate. Try: Add: "Don't give a Fall return rate. Don't use the 35 mentions as a rate."
• Leaving out the known figures. The AI only says 'we don't have it'. Try: Add: "Say 1,200 Fall orders and overall returns of 310 on 6,200 orders (5.0%)."
• Vague next step. The AI says 'we'll look into it'. Try: Add: "Wen Zhao matches returns to orders Wednesday afternoon, with your approval."
• Leaving the format to chance. The AI picks its own length and layout unless told the exact shape. Try: Add: "Plain text, no bold or headings."
• Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it. Try: Cap each part instead, for example "each line under 15 words."

What a strong prompt includes

• Names the reader
• Says it can't yet
• Gives the known figures
• Rules out estimating
• Gives the next step

Practice this now ↑

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