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Refresh a forecast and plan

Update assumptions and compare base, upside, and downside plans.

Difficulty Intermediate
Time horizon 1h

Give ChatGPT an operating model, latest actuals, approved assumptions, owner inputs, and scenario rules, then ask it to refresh the forecast and compare scenarios with sensitivities, trigger points, and review notes.

Best for

  • Operating-plan or forecast updates that incorporate recent actuals and approved assumptions.
  • Base, upside, and downside scenarios covering revenue, margin, hiring, and cash.
  • Planning reviews that need sensitivities, trigger points, and explicit approval items.

Contents

    ← All use cases

    Refresh a forecast and plan

    Update assumptions and compare base, upside, and downside plans.

    Give ChatGPT an operating model, latest actuals, approved assumptions, owner inputs, and scenario rules, then ask it to refresh the forecast and compare scenarios with sensitivities, trigger points, and review notes.

    Intermediate
    1h

    Give ChatGPT an operating model, latest actuals, approved assumptions, owner inputs, and scenario rules, then ask it to refresh the forecast and compare scenarios with sensitivities, trigger points, and review notes.

    Intermediate
    1h

    Related links

    Agent skills

    Best for

    • Operating-plan or forecast updates that incorporate recent actuals and approved assumptions.
    • Base, upside, and downside scenarios covering revenue, margin, hiring, and cash.
    • Planning reviews that need sensitivities, trigger points, and explicit approval items.

    Skills & Plugins

    • Spreadsheets
      Refresh an editable forecast, preserve assumption controls, and build scenario and sensitivity tables with formula checks.
    Skill Why use it
    Spreadsheets Refresh an editable forecast, preserve assumption controls, and build scenario and sensitivity tables with formula checks.

    Starter prompt

    Use $spreadsheets to refresh the [forecast or operating plan] for [business]. Use the attached operating model, revenue-driver model, headcount plan, cash forecast, latest actuals, approved planning assumptions, owner inputs, and prior forecast. Preserve the original model and make assumption changes visible. Create base, downside, and upside scenarios with the key revenue, margin, hiring, and cash drivers. Summarize cash impact, hiring implications, trigger points, key sensitivities, risks, and a recommendation. Include a sensitivity table and list every assumption that needs approval before the plan is shared. Do not overwrite business assumptions silently.
    Use $spreadsheets to refresh the [forecast or operating plan] for [business]. Use the attached operating model, revenue-driver model, headcount plan, cash forecast, latest actuals, approved planning assumptions, owner inputs, and prior forecast. Preserve the original model and make assumption changes visible. Create base, downside, and upside scenarios with the key revenue, margin, hiring, and cash drivers. Summarize cash impact, hiring implications, trigger points, key sensitivities, risks, and a recommendation. Include a sensitivity table and list every assumption that needs approval before the plan is shared. Do not overwrite business assumptions silently.

    Introduction

    A forecast refresh should show which assumptions changed and how those changes affect the plan. ChatGPT can update an editable model, build comparable scenarios, and summarize the sensitivities and trigger points leadership should review.

    Prepare the planning inputs

    Attach the operating model, latest actuals, approved assumptions, owner inputs, and prior forecast. Include the planning calendar and scenario rules, and identify assumptions that ChatGPT may update only after approval.

    1. Attach the operating model and supporting driver files.
    2. Add the latest actuals, approved assumptions, owner inputs, and prior forecast.
    3. Define base, upside, and downside rules along with protected assumptions.
    4. Run the starter prompt and request an editable forecast workbook.
    5. Review assumption changes, formula links, sensitivities, and approval items.
    6. Continue in the same task to tune one driver at a time.

    Compare the scenarios

    Good scenario planning makes the differences easy to audit. Keep the base case visible and trace each scenario back to a small set of explicit driver changes.

    Compare the base, downside, and upside scenarios. For each scenario, list: - changed assumptions and their source - revenue, margin, hiring, and cash impact - the most sensitive drivers - trigger points that would move us into this scenario - risks and open assumptions - approvals required before sharing the plan Check formula links and keep the prior forecast available for comparison. Do not change any additional assumptions.

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