5 Claude 2 Prompts Every Operations Manager Needs

After three months of using Claude 2 for operations work, we've refined a set of prompts that consistently deliver useful results. These aren't generic examples. These are prompts we use weekly for real work. Copy them, adapt them, and save yourself hours of document review and analysis. ## Why This Matters Operations work involves constant document review, analysis, and synthesis. Vendor contracts, process documentation, financial reports, project plans, and team communications. **Good prompts turn Claude 2 from a chatbot into a practical tool that saves 5-10 hours per week on document-heavy work.** Bad prompts waste time and produce useless output. This is our tested prompt library for operations teams. ## Prompt 1: Contract Risk Assessment **Use Case**: Initial review of vendor agreements, service contracts, or partnership terms before legal review. **Prompt**: ``` Review this contract and identify potential risks or concerns for the Customer. Specifically, analyze: 1. Payment terms and financial obligations 2. Liability caps and limitations 3. Termination conditions and notice periods 4. Data handling and privacy provisions 5. Exclusive relationship or non-compete clauses 6. Auto-renewal terms 7. Any unusual or one-sided provisions For each issue, explain: - What the clause says in plain English - Why it might be concerning - What standard market terms look like - Whether this is negotiable or a red flag Organize your analysis by risk level (High, Medium, Low). ``` **What This Does**: - Flags problematic clauses before legal review - Explains issues in plain English - Prioritizes by risk level - Provides context for negotiations **Real Result**: We used this on a 50-page SaaS agreement. Claude flagged an uncapped data breach liability clause buried in Section 8 that we would have missed. Legal confirmed it was a deal-breaker that needed negotiation. **Time Saved**: 45 minutes of manual reading → 5 minutes with Claude ## Prompt 2: Process Documentation **Use Case**: Documenting existing workflows, creating SOPs, or training materials from meeting notes or conversations. **Prompt**: ``` I need to create process documentation for [specific workflow]. Based on the information below, create a clear SOP that includes: 1. Process Overview (2-3 sentences describing what this process accomplishes) 2. Prerequisites (what needs to be ready before starting) 3. Step-by-Step Instructions (numbered, with clear actions) 4. Decision Points (where judgment calls are needed) 5. Common Problems and Solutions 6. Success Criteria (how to know it's done correctly) Format the output in markdown with clear headings. Use second-person voice ("you do X") for instructions. Include estimated time for each major step. [Paste meeting notes, conversation transcript, or rough notes here] ``` **What This Does**: - Converts rough notes into structured documentation - Identifies gaps in your process - Creates consistent formatting - Includes troubleshooting guidance **Real Result**: We documented our vendor onboarding process using this prompt. Started with messy meeting notes. Claude produced an 8-section SOP that our team actually uses. Required minimal editing. **Time Saved**: 2-3 hours of document writing → 15 minutes with Claude + 15 minutes editing ## Prompt 3: Financial Data Analysis **Use Case**: Analyzing financial reports, board decks, budget variance, or performance metrics. **Prompt**: ``` Analyze this financial data and provide: 1. Executive Summary - Top 3 insights in bullet points - Overall performance vs. expectations 2. Key Trends - What's improving? - What's declining? - What's staying stable? 3. Anomalies and Red Flags - Unusual patterns or outliers - Areas that need investigation - Potential problems 4. Comparative Analysis - Month-over-month or quarter-over-quarter changes - Year-over-year comparisons - Performance vs. targets 5. Recommended Actions - What should leadership focus on? - What needs immediate attention? - What's on track and needs no action? Provide specific numbers and percentages in your analysis. [Paste financial data, reports, or spreadsheet exports here] ``` **What This Does**: - Identifies trends and anomalies - Provides executive-ready summaries - Flags items needing attention - Compares across time periods **Real Result**: We used this on our quarterly board deck. Claude identified that customer acquisition cost had increased 23% while we were focused on revenue growth. This caught an efficiency problem we would have noticed later. **Time Saved**: 60-90 minutes of analysis → 10 minutes with Claude ## Prompt 4: Meeting Preparation **Use Case**: Preparing for important meetings, board presentations, or strategic discussions by analyzing background documents. **Prompt**: ``` I have a meeting about [topic] with [stakeholders]. I need to prepare by understanding these documents. Please provide: 1. Key Takeaways (5-7 bullet points I must know) 2. Potential Questions and Concerns - What will stakeholders likely ask? - What concerns might they raise? - Where are the weak points in this proposal/plan? 3. Supporting Data - Key metrics or evidence I should reference - Compelling examples or case studies 4. Counterarguments - What objections might come up? - How can I address them? 5. Action Items - What decisions need to be made in this meeting? - What follow-ups will be needed? Format as a meeting prep brief I can review in 5 minutes. [Paste relevant documents, proposals, background materials here] ``` **What This Does**: - Synthesizes background materials - Anticipates questions and objections - Identifies supporting evidence - Creates action-oriented brief **Real Result**: We used this before a board meeting about budget allocation. Claude identified three questions board members were likely to ask. All three came up. We had prepared answers and the meeting went smoothly. **Time Saved**: 45 minutes of document review → 10 minutes with Claude + 10 minutes reviewing the brief ## Prompt 5: Project Planning **Use Case**: Breaking down complex projects, identifying dependencies, and creating realistic timelines. **Prompt**: ``` I need to plan a project to [describe project goal]. Based on the project details below, provide: 1. Project Breakdown - Major phases or workstreams - Key deliverables for each phase - Estimated duration (in weeks) 2. Task Dependencies - What must happen before other things can start? - What can be done in parallel? - Where are the bottlenecks or critical path items? 3. Resource Requirements - What roles or expertise are needed? - When will they be needed most? - Potential capacity constraints 4. Risk Factors - What could delay this project? - What external dependencies exist? - Where should we build buffer time? 5. Success Metrics - How will we know this project is successful? - What metrics should we track? - What are the interim milestones? Format as a project plan outline that I can use to build a detailed project brief. [Paste project requirements, scope, constraints, resources available] ``` **What This Does**: - Breaks complex projects into phases - Identifies dependencies and risks - Estimates realistic timelines - Creates foundation for detailed planning **Real Result**: We used this to plan a system migration project. Claude identified a dependency we hadn't considered (data validation must complete before user training begins). This prevented a schedule slip that would have delayed launch by two weeks. **Time Saved**: 2-3 hours of planning work → 20 minutes with Claude + 30 minutes refining ## How to Adapt These Prompts These prompts work because they: - Specify exact output format - Request prioritization (risk level, top insights, etc.) - Ask for context, not just facts - Include decision-support information When adapting for your needs: **Be Specific About Output** Bad: "Analyze this contract." Good: "Analyze this contract and organize findings by risk level with plain English explanations." **Request Structure** Ask for tables, numbered lists, or specific sections. Structured output is easier to use. **Include Context** Tell Claude what you'll do with the output. "I need to brief leadership" produces different results than "I need to negotiate with the vendor." **Specify Constraints** Include word count, time limits, or formatting requirements. "Format as a 5-minute brief" gets more concise output than open-ended requests. ## Common Mistakes to Avoid **Too Vague** "Tell me about this document" produces generic summaries. Specify what insights you need. **No Structure** Unstructured prompts produce unstructured output. Always request specific sections or formats. **Missing Context** Claude doesn't know your business goals or constraints. Include relevant context in the prompt. **Expecting Perfection** Claude's output is a starting point. Plan to spend 15-20% of saved time reviewing and refining. ## Quick Takeaway These five prompts handle 80% of operations document work: contract review, process documentation, financial analysis, meeting prep, and project planning. Each saves 30-90 minutes per use. Start with these templates and adapt them to your specific workflows.