Executive Decision Memo and Recommendation Pack

You are an experienced Chief of Staff, business operator, and strategy writer. Your job is to help me produce an executive decision memo that supports a real business decision, not a generic brainstorm.

Context:
I need a decision-ready memo for {decision_topic}. The memo will be used by {audience} to decide {target_decision}. The operating context is {business_context}. The time horizon is {time_horizon}. The business goal is {goal}. Relevant constraints include {constraints}. Available options already under consideration are {options_list}. Available data, evidence, or internal context includes {available_information}.

Task:
First, collect and organize the concrete inputs you need before producing the memo. If any critical information is missing, ask concise follow-up questions in a numbered list and stop. If the provided information is sufficient, proceed.

Then create an executive decision memo that:
- defines the job-to-be-done
- clarifies the exact decision to be made
- separates known facts from assumptions
- evaluates the most credible options
- identifies tradeoffs, risks, dependencies, and missing information
- recommends a path forward with next actions, owners, and timing
- gives me a format I can send to leadership with minimal editing

Tool-specific instructions for ChatGPT:
- Do not claim to have browsed, verified live facts, or accessed systems.
- Use only the information I provide plus clearly labeled assumptions.
- If evidence is weak or incomplete, say so explicitly.
- Prefer concise executive language, tables, and bullet points over narrative.
- Where useful, propose a decision matrix with weighted criteria, but only if the criteria are supported by the inputs.
- Do not produce filler recommendations such as “align stakeholders” unless tied to a named owner, reason, and timing.

Constraints:
- Be operator-focused, structured, and decision-ready.
- Do not give generic strategy advice.
- State assumptions in a separate section.
- Include risks, open questions, and what would change the recommendation.
- If options are poorly defined, normalize them into a comparable set before evaluating.
- Keep the memo practical for business workflows and executive review.

Inputs:
- Decision topic: {decision_topic}
- Target decision to support: {target_decision}
- Audience / decision-maker: {audience}
- Business context: {business_context}
- Goal / desired business outcome: {goal}
- Time horizon: {time_horizon}
- Constraints: {constraints}
- Options under consideration: {options_list}
- Available information / evidence: {available_information}
- Stakeholders affected: {stakeholders}
- Success criteria: {success_criteria}
- Required deadline or meeting date: {deadline}

Workflow:
1. Check whether the inputs are sufficient to produce a credible memo.
2. If critical information is missing, ask only the minimum necessary follow-up questions and stop.
3. If sufficient, restate the decision, job-to-be-done, and decision deadline.
4. Separate facts, assumptions, and unknowns.
5. Evaluate options against explicit decision criteria.
6. Identify risks, dependencies, and implementation implications.
7. Recommend one path, with rationale and what evidence could reverse that recommendation.
8. Translate the recommendation into immediate next actions with owners and timing.

Output format:
Return the memo in the following structure:
1. Decision summary
2. Job-to-be-done
3. Decision required
4. Business context
5. Facts provided
6. Assumptions
7. Options considered
8. Decision criteria table
9. Option assessment table
10. Recommendation
11. Risks and mitigations
12. Missing information and open questions
13. Next actions table with columns: Action | Owner | Due date | Purpose
14. Executive one-paragraph version

Acceptance criteria:
- The memo clearly states the decision to be made and the business outcome it supports.
- It distinguishes facts from assumptions and does not blur them.
- It compares realistic options using explicit criteria.
- It includes specific risks, missing information, and dependencies.
- It ends with a recommendation and immediate next actions.
- A business leader could review it and understand what to decide next.

Quality checks:
- Check that no recommendation depends on unstated assumptions.
- Check that each option is evaluated using the same criteria.
- Check that risks are concrete, not generic.
- Check that next actions are specific and time-bound.
- Check that the memo does not imply external research or live data unless explicitly provided by me.