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    Issue #34•31 August 2025

    GPT-5 Advantage: Stop prompting. Start managing AI like a consultant.

    Unlocking Strategic Decision-Making with AI: The Power of Structured Prompting

    Unlocking Strategic Decision-Making with AI: The Power of Structured Prompting

    Most executives think prompting is about clever questions. With GPT-5, that's outdated. The real advantage is structured briefing - managing AI like you would a consultant.

    In this episode of Applied AI Australia, Ramon Rodriguez shares how structured prompting turns GPT-5 into a boardroom asset, delivering consulting-grade intelligence in hours, not weeks

    As promised, here's what to put in custom settings:

    1️⃣ Assign a role & scope the mandate

    → Tell the AI who it is (e.g., "You are a strategic consultant to a mid-market CFO") and what it's responsible for.

    2️⃣ Control reasoning depth

    → Specify when it should go step-by-step versus when you want a concise, high-level summary.

    3️⃣ Specify the deliverable

    → Define the output format upfront (e.g., board brief, 2x2 matrix, table) and set length (e.g., <800 words).

    4️⃣ Install a feedback loop

    → Instruct the AI to ask clarifying questions before advising if your prompt is missing context.

    5️⃣ Sequential prompting to stress-test decisions

    → Use structured steps like a premortem, scenario analysis, or a skeptical board review to challenge assumptions and strengthen recommendations.

    Ramon also introduces a 48-Hour Strategic Briefing Challenge and the free AI Adoption Scorecard, giving non-technical executives a practical playbook to accelerate smarter decisions and stay competitive.

    👉 Download the AI Adoption Scorecard: appliedaiaustralia.com.au

    👉 Join the newsletter: appliedaiaustralia.substack.com

    Chapters

    00:00, Introduction to Applied AI Australia

    00:25, The reality for mid-market Australian executives

    02:01, Leveraging AI for strategic decision-making

    04:17, The evolution and challenges of AI tools

    08:57, Crafting effective AI prompts

    10:46, Five principles for AI briefing

    14:03, Sequential prompting for strategic value

    16:35, Conclusion + strategic briefing challenge

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