Name the business question
Instead of asking for a generic report, describe what you want to learn.Which departments drove the increase in operating expenses last month?
How many sales hires can we add while keeping at least 12 months of cash runway?
Which customer segments explain the gap between our Forecast and Actuals?
Add the time period and baseline
Say which period matters and what Ari should compare it with.Compare March Actuals with the March Forecast and with February Actuals.
Show the next four quarters against the Main Scenario.If you are working in a different Scenario, name it when that choice matters to the result.
Ask for the level of detail you need
Use the business categories that explain the result, such as department, customer, product, employee, entity, or region.Break payroll down by department, then show the employees behind the largest change.
Show revenue by customer segment and plan, including new customers, expansion, and churn.When a number is already visible, point Ari to the current Page, table, row, or cell.
Say whether you want an answer or a change
For analysis:Explain the change in gross margin without modifying the Model.For a saved change:
Update the Forecast formula for gross margin in the Downside Scenario and show me the resulting values.For a review before saving:
Draft the formula and check whether it is valid, but wait before applying it.
Ask Ari to show its work
Useful follow-ups include:- “Which source data supports that conclusion?”
- “Which assumptions did you make?”
- “What changed compared with the prior period?”
- “Which formula applies to this cell?”
- “Can you reconcile this total to the detail below it?”
- “Where can I change the assumption and compare another outcome?”