Structured documents for decisions.
WHAT A REPORT NEEDS
What the reader must decide or know, stated first The evidence The analysis The recommendation What happens next
HOW TO USE AI
Supply your findings as notes. Ask for structure and prose.
"Here are my findings on [subject]. Write a report for [audience]. They need to decide [what]. Lead with the recommendation, then the evidence."
THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
"Write a summary of under two hundred words stating the recommendation and the two main reasons."
Most readers read only this. Make it carry the report.
WHAT AI GETS WRONG
Burying the conclusion Presenting findings neutrally where a recommendation was wanted Excessive background
WHAT YOU MUST SUPPLY
The findings. Every figure, every observation.
Never let a model generate data.
CHECKING
Every figure against your source
Internal consistency: do the numbers in the summary match the body
THE TEST
Could the reader make the decision from the first page?
