Generative AI is transforming project and risk management by making complex tasks simpler, helping managers make better decisions, and saving valuable time. With AI-powered prompts, project managers can handle everything from planning to budgeting and risk management more effectively. Here’s how AI prompts can support project and risk management, with tables and explanations to make decision-making smoother.
1. Comparing Costs and BenefitsPrompt Example:
"I am working with a software development team facing a decision: outsource or hire an in-house designer. Outsourcing would cost $20K up front and $5K per month for 6 months. Our in-house designer would cost $60K in salary. Show me the total cost for each using a detailed cost-benefit analysis in a table format. Explain your suggestion."
Option |
Upfront Cost |
Monthly Cost |
Duration (Months) |
Total Cost |
Notes |
Outsourcing |
$20,000 |
$5,000 |
6 |
$50,000 |
Flexible, short-term option |
In-house Designer |
$0 |
$5,000 |
12 (Annual) |
$60,000 |
Long-term, potential savings |
This table provides a clear comparison of the costs involved in each option, showing managers the financial impact of outsourcing versus hiring. With this analysis, managers can quickly see which choice is better for short-term or long-term projects and make an informed decision.
2. Creating a Persuasive Business CasePrompt Example:
"Trinidad Foods wants to introduce a new loyalty program to increase customer retention and sales. The program will cost $50K to implement but is projected to increase revenue by 10% in the first year. This means the store will generate an additional $100K in revenue, yielding a net profit of $50K. The ROI for the loyalty program investment is 100%. Compose a business case to the decision maker that is clear and concise and uses a persuasive and personal tone. Highlight in bold any important information."
Item |
Projected Amount |
Details |
Initial Cost |
$50,000 |
Cost to implement the loyalty program |
Projected Revenue Gain |
$100,000 |
10% increase in revenue within the first year |
Net Profit |
$50,000 |
Net gain after deducting initial cost |
ROI |
100% |
Strong return on investment |
By showing the financial impact of the loyalty program, this table makes it easier to justify the program’s value to decision-makers. Highlighting the 100% ROI allows managers to present a compelling business case, emphasizing the program’s positive impact on revenue and profits.
3. Managing Scope Creep
Prompt Example:
"I am a project manager developing a new mobile app with an original scope of 10 tablets for users. However, the client is adding new requirements, including five new tablets, two user roles, and three features which include single sign-on, Microsoft Azure cloud security, and ChatGPT bot integration. The client insists the app must meet all these requirements. The team estimated the additions will extend the timeline by 3 months and cost $50K; the original budget was $60K. I need to manage the scope creep and communicate with the client about the impact on the project timeline and budget. Create a requirements traceability matrix in a table format. Help me manage the scope creep and communicate with the client about the impact on the project timeline and budget. Highlight the suggested solution(s)."
Requirement |
Original Budget |
New Budget |
Timeline Impact |
Comments |
Initial Scope (10 tablets) |
$60,000 |
$60,000 |
0 months |
Original plan |
Added 5 tablets |
- |
$20,000 |
+1 month |
Additional cost |
New User Roles (2) |
- |
$10,000 |
+0.5 month |
Increased complexity |
New Features |
- |
$20,000 |
+1.5 months |
Security, single sign-on, and bot |
This table provides a clear picture of how scope creep affects the budget and timeline, helping managers explain the impact of new requirements to the client. By using a structured format, managers can show the specific costs and delays associated with each additional feature, making it easier to justify adjustments to the project scope.
4. Risk Analysis Using Real-Life Scenarios
Prompt Example:
"The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011 demonstrated poor risk management. Despite a 10% chance of a tsunami exceeding the planned maximum of 5.7 meters, TEPCO did not revise safety measures. The resulting 14-meter tsunami caused a level-7 nuclear disaster, costing over US$200 billion in damages and cleanup. Show me how to solve this concisely using a detailed risk analysis table format. Highlight the suggested solution in bold."
Risk |
Probability |
Impact ($) |
Mitigation Strategy |
Recommended Actions |
Tsunami exceeding 5.7 meters |
10% |
>$200 billion |
Re-evaluate safety measures |
Increase height of sea walls |
Earthquake-triggered risks |
High |
Varies |
Strengthen structural integrity of facility |
Enhance seismic resilience |
Power loss from natural events |
Medium |
>$1 billion |
Backup power systems in multiple locations |
Install redundant backup generators |
This risk matrix helps managers identify and plan for significant risks by showing the probability, cost, and preventive actions for each risk. By reviewing real-life scenarios, managers can take proactive steps to prevent similar issues in their own projects.
5. Using Earned Value Management (EVM) to Track Budgets Prompt Example:
"A software development project has a $100K budget and a timeline of 6 months. After 3 months, the actual cost (AC) is $60K and the project is 50% complete. Am I over or under budget? Behind or ahead of schedule? What is the Earned Value (EV), Estimate to Complete (ETC), and Variance at Completion (VAC)? Show this in a table format and highlight the explanation in bold."
Metric |
Formula |
Calculation |
Result |
Budget at Completion (BAC) |
Given |
- |
$100,000 |
Planned Value (PV) |
BAC x % Planned Completion |
$100,000 x 0.5 |
$50,000 |
Earned Value (EV) |
BAC x % Actual Completion |
$100,000 x 0.5 |
$50,000 |
Actual Cost (AC) |
Given |
- |
$60,000 |
Cost Variance (CV) |
EV - AC |
$50,000 - $60,000 |
-$10,000 |
Schedule Variance (SV) |
EV - PV |
$50,000 - $50,000 |
$0 |
Estimate to Complete (ETC) |
BAC - EV |
$100,000 - $50,000 |
$50,000 |
Variance at Completion (VAC) |
BAC - (EV + ETC) |
- |
$0 |
This table helps project managers track project spending against the budget and determine if adjustments are needed. By breaking down EVM metrics, managers can see if they are over or under budget and make timely decisions to keep finances on track.
6. Creating User Stories Prompt Example:
"A company requires an airline mobile app to allow frequent flyers to view and manage their upcoming flights. The app should enable users to make flight changes easily and stay organized. Success will be measured by the number of successful logins to the app, the number of flight changes made, and overall user satisfaction with the new feature. This data will inform future improvements to the app’s flight management functionality. Create an agile user story in two tables. Use the following as a guideline: for the user story, create a sentence using the phrases 'As a [persona],' 'I want [what],' and 'so that [desired outcome].' The acceptance criteria use the Given-When-Then formula."
User Story |
Role |
Action |
Outcome |
"As a frequent flyer, I want to view and manage my flights so that I can easily track and update my travel plans." |
Frequent Flyer |
View/Manage Flights |
Organized and updated travel |
Acceptance Criteria |
Given |
When |
Then |
Successful Login |
User is on login screen |
User enters credentials |
User accesses account |
Flight Change Feature |
User is on flight management screen |
User selects change option |
User successfully updates flight details |
This user story format clarifies what each feature should accomplish, giving the development team a clear goal. Acceptance criteria ensure that all functionality meets the specified requirements, improving alignment with user expectations.
Conclusion Using these AI-powered prompts and tables makes project and risk management more efficient and effective. From cost comparisons to risk assessments, AI provides clear, actionable insights, helping project managers make informed decisions and achieve their goals. By integrating AI, managers can streamline processes and improve project success rates.