Library › Leadership AI › Executives

Flag the variances in an operating review that need a decision

  • For Executives
  • You practice Catching mistakes and made-up facts
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Intermediate

About this exercise

Review the monthly figures. For each line, compute the variance (actual minus budget, and percent of budget, rounded to a whole number) and flag it "REVIEW" only if the absolute variance is over 10% of budget, otherwise "ok". Write exactly 5 numbered lines like: 1. Line - actual vs budget - variance $ and % - REVIEW/ok. Then a final line: Biggest: the line with the largest variance in dollars, with no cause guessed. Show the math.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Using the stale revenue. The AI uses 1,090. Try: Say: "Revenue was revised to 1,104."
  • Flagging by feel. The AI flags the largest dollar items. Try: Say: "REVIEW only if over 10% of budget."
  • Guessing causes. The AI says marketing is timing. Try: Say: "Don't guess causes; the VP's timing claim is unconfirmed."
  • Skipping the math. The AI states variances without working. Try: Say: "Show actual vs budget and the variance."
  • 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 line: "each line under 25 words."
  • 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 12 words."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Line format
  • Threshold
  • Percent rule
  • Latest data
  • No causes

Practice this now ↑

Related exercises