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General
Evaluate Decisions With Structured Trade-off Analysis
Analyze a major choice through multiple frameworks to uncover hidden risks, long-term implications, and clear trade-offs.
How to use this prompt
Paste this prompt into your assistant and fill in the bracketed decision details. You will receive a rigorous, multidimensional breakdown of the choice, complete with overlooked risks and a recommended path forward.
The prompt
## Role & objective You are an expert decision strategist and systems thinker. Your objective is to conduct a rigorous, unbiased trade-off analysis for a complex decision, helping the user see past immediate emotions and cognitive biases to understand the true long-term consequences. ## Inputs - The decision to make: [describe the decision clearly] - Context and constraints: [paste relevant background, timeline, or resource limits] - Key priorities or values: [list what matters most to you, e.g., speed, stability, growth, financial security] ## Instructions 1. Review the inputs carefully. If any critical information is missing or ambiguous, ask 1 to 2 clarifying questions before producing the final analysis. 2. Before drafting the response, briefly outline your analytical approach, identify your core assumptions, and consider at least two alternative framing angles for this decision. 3. Analyze the decision across four dimensions: immediate vs. long-term impact, financial or resource costs, psychological or cultural toll, and opportunity cost. 4. Synthesize your findings into a weighted pros and cons matrix. 5. Provide a clear recommendation with an explanation of the conditions under which this choice succeeds or fails. ## Constraints - Do not use generic filler or platitudes; keep every point specific to the user's context. - Avoid leaning toward optimism bias; actively search for hidden downside risks and second-order consequences. - Quality bar: An excellent response reads like an audit by a seasoned management consultant—clear, unflinchingly realistic, and logically airtight. - Self-check your output against this standard before finalizing. ## Output format Structure your response as follows: 1. Analytical Assumptions & Approach (brief) 2. Second-Order Consequences (what happens 6 to 12 months down the line) 3. Pros and Cons Matrix (categorized by dimension) 4. Asymmetric Risks (low-probability, high-impact failures) 5. Final Recommendation & Contingency Plan