EC-201a · Module 1

Writing the Recommendation

3 min read

A recommendation is a specific, actionable, time-bound statement that tells an executive exactly what to approve, fund, or unblock. It is not a direction. It is not a suggestion. It is not a summary of the analysis. It is a declaration of the decision that needs to be made. Anything less specific than a declaration is not yet a recommendation — it is a discussion topic.

Do This

  • "Approve $250K for a 90-day AI pilot targeting the claims processing workflow, launching Q2 2026."
  • "Fund Phase 1 of the AI roadmap at $400K to deliver the customer churn model by June 30."
  • "Unblock the data access request for the underwriting team so the pilot can begin March 15."
  • "Approve the vendor contract with Acme AI at the negotiated rate of $85K/year, effective Q2."

Avoid This

  • "We should consider our options for AI adoption."
  • "We recommend exploring AI solutions for the claims workflow."
  • "The team should move forward with the AI initiative when resources allow."
  • "We believe AI could improve our operations and recommend further evaluation."

The test for a recommendation is simple: can an executive read it and know exactly what they are being asked to approve, in what amount, by when, for what purpose? If any of those four elements is missing, the recommendation is incomplete. An incomplete recommendation produces a question instead of a decision. Every question the executive has to ask is a minute the decision is not being made.