# Turn a long document into a decision brief

Original 5HO practice material. Fictional example. Reviewed 5 October 2026.

## Useful result

You'll finish with a compact decision brief that preserves options, evidence, uncertainty and document references.

A long document and a short decision are different jobs. Ask AI to extract what matters to the decision, including what the document does not tell you. A confident summary of the wrong question is still the wrong summary.

## Set up

Allow 20–30 minutes. Use a file-reading AI app, or paste the small example below. Upload limits, scanned-page reading and file access vary by account.

## Practice input

Fictional proposal: Section 1, Option A costs AUD 2,000 and takes two weeks. Section 2, Option B costs AUD 1,400 and takes four weeks. Section 3, required launch is in three weeks. Support costs and approval owner are not stated.

## Do the task

1. State the decision before attaching the document.
2. Ask for options, evidence locations and unanswered questions.
3. Open the cited sections yourself and check the important claims.

## Prompt

Prepare a one-page decision brief from this proposal. Compare cost and timing, cite the section for each fact and list missing information. Separate your recommendation from what the source states.

## Refine

Explain whether the cheaper option meets the stated launch timing. Do not invent support costs to make the comparison look complete.

## Expected checks

B is cheaper on stated upfront cost but takes longer than the three-week window. A’s timing fits that window; final approval still needs the missing support and ownership information.

## Save

Save the brief with the document version and checked section references. Ask the owner about the gaps before deciding.

## Sources

- Projects and reusable context: https://help.openai.com/en/articles/10169521-projects-in-chatgpt