Explain this week's sales and operating changes

What you’ll produce

A one-page operating report with a source table and review questions.

Inputs & connections

• Sales, cost and operating exports for comparable periods
• Metric definitions, targets and owner notes explaining known events

Start with approved files. Live refreshes require separately connected data sources and a confirmed schedule.

Replace the bracketed fields. This is our suggested prompt, not a quote from the source.

Prepare a weekly owner report from [approved exports] using [metric definitions]. Reconcile source totals before comparing periods. Show the few material changes in sales, costs and operations, with a source reference for every number. Separate explanations supported by owner notes from hypotheses to investigate. List missing data and inconsistent definitions. Return a draft and supporting calculations; ask for approval before sharing the report, editing source records or creating a recurring update.

How to run it

1. 01

   Choose comparable reporting periods and agree on metric definitions.

2. 02

   Reconcile imported totals and identify missing or inconsistent fields.

3. 03

   Draft the material changes with source references and clearly labeled hypotheses.

4. 04

   Have the owner verify the calculations and approve distribution or a recurring schedule.

Limitations & success checks

• A weekly change may be seasonal or caused by incomplete data.
• An agent-generated explanation is not proof of causation or a reliable forecast.

Measure: Figures reconciled, unsupported explanations removed and decisions informed by verified changes.

Sources & attribution

The sources below support the reported example or a tool capability. They do not validate our prompt or prove the outcome in your environment.

Editorial review: 2026-10-17. How we label evidence.