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Measure discount leakage by deal and flag deals over the ceiling

  • For FP&A and financial analysts
  • You practice Asking for a format you can use
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Intermediate

About this exercise

You're reviewing Q3 discounting. Write a prompt for a markdown table with columns Deal | Units | Net price | Discount % | Flag, one row per deal, then a line starting "Leakage:" showing list-price revenue minus actual revenue and the percent of list-price revenue. Flag is "Over ceiling" if the discount exceeds 10%, otherwise blank. No commentary. Under 90 words. No bullets or numbering.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Flagging by size. The AI flags Deal A (8%) or none because the sign-off is unknown. Try: Say: "Flag only discounts above 10%."
  • Leakage from the wrong base. The AI divides by actual revenue. Try: Add: "Percent of list-price revenue."
  • Commenting on the rep. The AI adds a paragraph about the walk-away claim. Try: Add: "Don't comment on the rep's explanation."
  • Wrong discount math. The AI shows discount as net/list. Try: Add: "Discount % = (list - net) / list."
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting and runs past word limits. Try: Ask for fewer words than the real cap and keep each line short.

What a strong prompt includes

  • Names the columns
  • Gives the discount formula
  • Defines the flag
  • Asks for the leakage line
  • Limits output

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