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Write a four-line MBR narrative for support costs

  • For FP&A and financial analysts
  • You practice Saying who it's for
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Intermediate

About this exercise

You're writing the support section of the monthly business review for the COO. Write a prompt for plain text with exactly four lines starting "Headline:", "Drivers:", "Risks:" and "Decision needed:". Compare to budget, not to last year. Show the math for cost per ticket. Use only the notes, and don't present anything from the notes as confirmed when it is only a guess. Under 90 words. No bullets or numbering.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Mixing year-over-year with budget. The AI reports ticket volume as 12% over and calls it a variance. Try: Say: "Compare to budget only; label the 12% as year-over-year."
  • Missing the per-ticket math. The AI reports cost over budget but not $31.00 vs $30.00. Try: Add: "Show cost per ticket actual vs budget with the division."
  • Missing the headline numbers. The AI says costs were 'slightly over' without dollars and percent. Try: Say: "Headline gives actual vs budget in dollars and percent of budget."
  • Markdown extras. The AI adds bold labels, headings and a closing note. Try: Say: "Plain text, no bold. Output only the lines asked for."
  • 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 four lines
  • Compares to budget
  • Asks for cost per ticket math
  • Marks guesses
  • Caps length

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