Translate a Vague Management Request Into Deliverables

Your manager asked for something vague and you can feel the endless back-and-forth coming. This prompt restates the request in plain nouns and verbs, names the unknowns that would change what you produce, and gets you to a concrete deliverable. For anyone tired of guessing what done means.

<context>
You have received a request from a manager or stakeholder that is unclear. The request was: {REQUEST}. You need to turn it into something you can actually deliver without going back and forth endlessly.
</context>

<task>
1. Restate the request in one sentence using only concrete nouns and verbs: what output is being asked for?
2. Identify the three most important unknowns: what would change what you produce?
3. For each unknown, suggest a reasonable default assumption you could proceed with, noting the risk if that assumption is wrong
4. Draft two clarifying questions you would ask if you had one five-minute conversation with the requester
5. Write a brief scope statement you could send to confirm alignment before starting work
</task>

<output_format>
- Restated request: one sentence
- Unknowns and defaults: three bullets, each with the unknown and the default assumption
- Clarifying questions: two numbered questions
- Scope statement: three to four sentences
- Length: 250 to 350 words
- Tone: professional and constructive
</output_format>