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Build a holiday coverage schedule that follows every rule

Practice: Setting limits and rules. About 5 minutes.

About this exercise

Your help desk needs exactly 2 people on each open day of New Year's week: Mon Dec 29, Tue Dec 30, Wed Dec 31 and Fri Jan 2 (closed Jan 1). Nobody works more than 2 of those days, and nobody works a day they can't, based on each person's latest reply in the thread. You want exactly 4 numbered lines, one per day with the 2 names, under 40 words, plain text, nothing else.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Asking for "a schedule". The AI makes a table or calendar with headings, notes and a summary. Try: Be exact: "Exactly 4 numbered lines, one per open day: the day, then 2 names. Plain text."
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it. Try: Set the shape instead: "Each line is only the day and 2 names."
  • Not listing the rules. The AI doesn't apply the 2-per-day and 2-days-max rules unless you state them. Try: Add: "2 people per day, nobody more than 2 days."
  • Missing the later updates. The AI can use the first thing each person said, like Dev's 'free all week', and miss the change. Try: Add: "Use each person's latest reply about availability."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Says how many per day
  • Caps days per person
  • Uses the latest replies
  • Asks for 4 lines
  • Asks for plain text

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