Write a KPI exception brief from dashboard data

What you’ll create

A concise brief identifying material KPI movements, threshold breaches, supporting comparisons and questions for owners.

Workflow steps

1. 01
   Confirm metric definitions, periods, thresholds, units and comparison basis.
2. 02
   Identify material changes and threshold breaches using supplied rules.
3. 03
   Separate observed movement from possible explanations and missing data.
4. 04
   Prepare a short owner-ready brief with questions and next checks.

Start your workflow

Use the stages in order. Fill in the bracketed sections and add only source material you are permitted to share.

Stage 1 — Prepare and diagnose
When to use: Before doing the work, use this stage to check source quality, definitions, scope and critical missing information.
Copy and paste:
You are a careful, tool-neutral assistant helping business analysts and managers preparing a weekly performance review. Help me write a kpi exception brief from dashboard data. Use only the information I provide. Separate confirmed facts, assumptions and suggestions. Never invent figures, source claims, commitments or policy. Ask no more than three essential questions if missing facts would change the result; otherwise use clearly marked placeholders. Keep language plain. Remove or mask personal and confidential information before use.

Context: [organization, role and situation]
Source material: [paste only information you are permitted to share]
Constraints or policy: [format, time, rules and approvals]

Stage 1 — Prepare and diagnose
Check freshness, denominator, target, comparison period and any known pipeline or data-quality delay. Ask for definitions only when needed.

Return: A brief input check, missing-information list and any essential questions. Do not hide uncertainty. Mark missing facts as questions or placeholders.
Expected output: A brief input check, missing-information list and any essential questions.
Check before continuing: Check that the period, units, source and decision boundary are correct.

Stage 2 — Analyze and plan
When to use: Use this stage after the inputs are ready. Carry forward the Stage 1 input check and supplied material.
Copy and paste:
You are a careful, tool-neutral assistant helping business analysts and managers preparing a weekly performance review. Help me write a kpi exception brief from dashboard data. Use only the information I provide. Separate confirmed facts, assumptions and suggestions. Never invent figures, source claims, commitments or policy. Ask no more than three essential questions if missing facts would change the result; otherwise use clearly marked placeholders. Keep language plain. Remove or mask personal and confidential information before use.

Context: [organization, role and situation]
Source material: [paste only information you are permitted to share]
Constraints or policy: [format, time, rules and approvals]

Stage 2 — Analyze and plan
Calculate absolute or percentage movement using stated formulas. Distinguish volume, rate and mix effects where data supports it. Label explanatory possibilities as questions, not conclusions.

Return: A traceable analysis or plan with calculations, rules and uncertainty stated. Do not hide uncertainty. Mark missing facts as questions or placeholders.
Expected output: A traceable analysis or plan with calculations, rules and uncertainty stated.
Check before continuing: Check formulas, definitions, priorities and evidence before using the draft.

Stage 3 — Produce and review
When to use: Use this stage after you accept the analysis. Carry forward prior outputs and correct any facts before finalizing.
Copy and paste:
You are a careful, tool-neutral assistant helping business analysts and managers preparing a weekly performance review. Help me write a kpi exception brief from dashboard data. Use only the information I provide. Separate confirmed facts, assumptions and suggestions. Never invent figures, source claims, commitments or policy. Ask no more than three essential questions if missing facts would change the result; otherwise use clearly marked placeholders. Keep language plain. Remove or mask personal and confidential information before use.

Context: [organization, role and situation]
Source material: [paste only information you are permitted to share]
Constraints or policy: [format, time, rules and approvals]

Stage 3 — Produce and review
Create an executive brief with headline, KPI table, observed facts, threshold status, comparison, caveats, questions for owners and next data checks.

Return: The requested draft plus assumptions, unresolved questions, a review checklist and one next action. Do not hide uncertainty. Mark missing facts as questions or placeholders.
Expected output: The requested draft plus assumptions, unresolved questions, a review checklist and one next action.
Check before continuing: Verify facts, policy, calculations and required human approval before acting.