Build vs Buy Recommendation Memo AI Prompt
Build vs buy decisions stall when you can’t compare options on the same page. Leaders often get decks full of opinions, mixed assumptions, and missing risks. That slows approval and creates rework.
A strong prompt fixes this by forcing clear inputs, consistent evaluation criteria, and a decision-ready format. AskSmarter.ai helps you get there by asking a few focused questions first—your constraints, stakeholders, timeline, and what “success” means—then turning your answers into a structured prompt.
In this example, you’ll learn how to generate a one-page recommendation memo that aligns your team, surfaces tradeoffs, and drives a decision with next steps.
The transformation
Before — Vague prompt
Write a memo about whether we should build or buy this feature and recommend what to do.
After — Optimized prompt
You’re a VP of Product writing a decision memo for the CEO, CFO, and Head of Engineering.
Create a one-page build vs buy recommendation memo for: [feature/capability] in [product].
Include:
- Decision statement and your recommendation.
- Options compared (Build, Buy vendor A, Buy vendor B, Do nothing).
- Evaluation criteria with a 1–5 score: time-to-ship (target 90 days), 12-month cost, security/compliance, control, team capacity, customer impact.
- Assumptions (list 5) and what would change the decision.
- Risks + mitigations (at least 6).
- 30/60/90-day plan with owners.
Tone: direct, plain language. Limit to 450 words.
Why this works
The improved prompt drives a decision-ready memo because it removes guesswork.
It adds clarity by naming the exact decision, the capability, and the required recommendation. It adds context by specifying your role and the real stakeholders. That helps the model write at the right altitude.
It adds structure through a one-page format with fixed sections. That makes the output easy to review and approve. It also adds constraints like a 90-day target and a 450-word limit. Those limits force prioritization.
It improves quality of reasoning by requiring scored criteria, explicit assumptions, and decision triggers. It also forces practical follow-through with risks, mitigations, and a 30/60/90-day plan.
AskSmarter.ai’s question flow captures these missing inputs fast. You answer a few prompts about timeline, budget, vendors, and non-negotiables. Then you get a prompt that produces a memo your exec team can act on.
When to use this prompt
Product leaders preparing an exec decision
Turn scattered inputs into a one-page recommendation that drives a yes/no call in a single meeting.
Engineering managers clarifying capacity tradeoffs
Compare build effort against vendor integration with shared criteria and explicit risks.
Finance partners validating cost assumptions
Force 12-month cost inputs and make assumptions visible before you commit spend.
Founders choosing tooling for a new market push
Decide fast when speed matters, without skipping security and long-term control.
Pro tips
- 1
Define the decision deadline so the memo matches the meeting cadence.
- 2
Specify non-negotiables like data residency, audit needs, or contract terms to avoid surprises.
- 3
List your top 3 customer outcomes so the scoring reflects real impact.
- 4
Add your best-guess numbers for build effort and vendor pricing so the memo stays grounded.
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Build a prompt for your situation
This example shows the pattern. AskSmarter.ai guides you to create prompts tailored to your specific context, audience, and goals.