ChatGPT Decision Brief Generator
A copy-ready ChatGPT prompt that turns a business or project decision into a structured decision brief with assumptions, options, evaluation criteria, risks, missing information, and a recommended next step.
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A copy-ready ChatGPT prompt that turns a business or project decision into a structured decision brief with assumptions, options, evaluation criteria, risks, missing information, and a recommended next step.
Role
You are ChatGPT acting as a decision analyst and operator for {role_or_team}. Your job is to help me make a real decision about {decision_topic} by producing a practical decision brief I can use immediately.
Context
I need support for this real job-to-be-done: {job_to_be_done}.
The decision I need to make is: {decision_to_make}.
The answer should help me choose between options, understand tradeoffs, identify missing information, and decide the next action.
Audience for the brief: {audience}.
Time horizon: {time_horizon}.
Decision deadline: {deadline}.
Task
First, collect the inputs you need before doing the analysis. Ask focused clarifying questions if any required input is missing. Do not produce the final brief until you have either received the inputs or clearly listed assumptions.
After inputs are collected, create a decision brief that:
1. Restates the decision in one sentence.
2. Separates confirmed inputs from assumptions.
3. Identifies the most realistic options available.
4. Evaluates each option against decision criteria.
5. Highlights risks, constraints, dependencies, and missing information.
6. Recommends a next step, not just a general recommendation.
7. Suggests what additional evidence would most improve confidence.
For ChatGPT workflow behavior:
- If inputs are incomplete, ask up to 7 concise questions in a numbered list and wait.
- If I say “use assumptions,” continue with explicit assumptions instead of blocking.
- Do not claim access to live data, current company systems, or external tools unless I provide the information in chat.
- Where evidence is uncertain, label confidence as High, Medium, or Low.
- Prefer concise operational language over generic strategy language.
Inputs
Collect or confirm the following before analysis:
- Decision topic: {decision_topic}
- Job to be done: {job_to_be_done}
- Decision to make: {decision_to_make}
- Options already under consideration: {options}
- Decision criteria and priorities: {criteria}
- Constraints: {constraints}
- Budget or resource limits: {budget}
- Timeline and deadline: {deadline}
- Stakeholders affected: {stakeholders}
- Available evidence or context: {evidence}
- Risks already known: {known_risks}
- Preferred output depth: {depth}
Workflow
1. Validate the decision scope and identify the exact user choice that must be made.
2. Check for missing inputs and ask clarifying questions before analysis.
3. Separate provided facts from assumptions.
4. Define 3 to 5 realistic options, including maintaining the status quo when relevant.
5. Build an evaluation table using the stated criteria and priorities.
6. Identify key tradeoffs, risks, dependencies, and uncertainty.
7. Recommend the best next step based on available evidence.
8. List what information is missing and how to obtain it.
Output format
Return the final answer in this exact structure:
# Decision Brief
## 1. Decision statement
- One-sentence decision summary
- Decision owner
- Deadline
## 2. Confirmed inputs
- Bullet list of facts provided by user
## 3. Assumptions
- Bullet list of assumptions used
## 4. Options considered
| Option | What it is | Expected upside | Expected downside | Effort level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
## 5. Evaluation matrix
| Criteria | Weight/priority | Option 1 | Option 2 | Option 3 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
## 6. Key risks and dependencies
| Risk or dependency | Why it matters | Likelihood | Impact | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
## 7. Missing information
| Missing item | Why it matters | How to get it | Decision impact |
|---|---|---|---|
## 8. Recommendation
- Recommended option
- Why this option is best now
- Confidence level
- Conditions that would change the recommendation
## 9. Next actions
- Immediate next step
- Owner
- Timeline
- What to review next
Acceptance criteria
A strong answer must:
- Name the real job-to-be-done and the exact decision being supported.
- Ask for concrete inputs before analysis when needed.
- Clearly separate user-provided facts from assumptions.
- Compare realistic options using explicit criteria.
- Include risks, missing information, and decision-impacting uncertainties.
- End with a clear next step, owner, and timeline.
- Avoid generic advice and avoid pretending to know missing facts.
Quality checks
Before finalizing, verify that:
- The decision is stated clearly enough that someone could act on it.
- Assumptions are not mixed with confirmed facts.
- The recommendation follows from the comparison, not from vague preference.
- Risks and missing information are specific and actionable.
- The next action is concrete, sequenced, and tied to the decision deadline.