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Choose which projects to cut to hit a budget target, with the math

  • For Executives
  • You practice Setting limits and rules
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Advanced

About this exercise

The company must cut $400,000 from next year's project budget. Using only the table, pick a set of cuts that reaches at least $400,000 while cutting the least strategic value. Reply in plain text: first line "Cut: " then the project names; then one line per cut showing its cost; then a line showing the total as a sum and whether it meets $400,000; then one line naming the strategic project you protected and why in under 12 words. No intro.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Cutting a 5-rated project. The AI cuts Ember or Atlas to hit the number faster. Try: Say: "Never cut anything rated 5."
  • Counting sunk costs. The AI counts all $200,000 of Gale even though $80,000 is spent. Try: Say: "Only $120,000 of Gale can be saved."
  • No protected project named. The AI ends with a summary instead of a protected project. Try: Say: "Last line: the strategic project protected, with a reason under 12 words."
  • Formatting. The AI returns a styled table. Try: Say: "Plain text lines, no table."
  • 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 20 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

  • Starts with Cut:
  • Asks for sum
  • Applies the CFO rule
  • Uses recoverable amounts
  • Plain text

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