Analysis Templates
Copy-paste prompt templates for the most common analytical tasks. Each template produces structured, actionable output rather than open-ended prose — making the results easier to act on and share.
Research Brief Template
Use when you need a structured synthesis of a topic for a decision or presentation:
Research question: [specific question to answer]
Context: [why this research is needed / what decision it informs]
Scope: [what to include / what to exclude / date range if relevant]
Output format:
1. Executive Summary (3 bullet points max)
2. Key Findings (4–6 points with supporting detail)
3. Key Uncertainties / What Is Not Known
4. Recommended Action or Next Steps
Audience: [who will read the brief / their level of familiarity with the topic]
Comparison Table Template
Use when evaluating multiple options against a set of criteria:
Compare the following options: [Option A], [Option B], [Option C].
Evaluation criteria:
- [Criterion 1, e.g. "Setup complexity"]
- [Criterion 2, e.g. "Cost model"]
- [Criterion 3, e.g. "Scalability"]
- [Criterion 4, e.g. "Community/support"]
Context: [the specific use case these options are being evaluated for]
Output: Markdown table with one row per option and one column per criterion. Add a "Best for" column as the final column summarising the ideal use case for each option.
Adding a "Best for" column forces Claude to synthesise a recommendation rather than just listing features — much more useful for decision-making.
Gap Analysis Template
Use when you need to identify what is missing between a current and desired state:
Current state: [describe what exists today]
Desired state: [describe what needs to be true / the goal]
Constraints: [any limitations on what changes are feasible, e.g. budget, timeline, team size]
Output format:
1. Gap summary (1 paragraph)
2. Gap list: each gap as [Gap] | [Impact if not addressed] | [Effort to close: High/Med/Low]
3. Recommended prioritisation (which gaps to close first and why)
SWOT Template
Use for a structured strategic analysis of an option, company, or initiative:
Conduct a SWOT analysis of [subject: company, product, strategy, initiative].
Context: [who is doing this analysis and for what purpose / decision]
Perspective: [e.g. "from the perspective of a potential acquirer" / "from the perspective of a competitor entering this market"]
Output: Four sections (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) with 3–5 bullet points each. End with a "So what" paragraph — the single most important implication of this SWOT for [the decision or purpose stated above].
Decision Matrix Template
Use when you have multiple options and want to score them systematically:
Build a weighted decision matrix for choosing between: [Option A], [Option B], [Option C].
Criteria and weights (must total 100%):
- [Criterion 1]: [weight]%
- [Criterion 2]: [weight]%
- [Criterion 3]: [weight]%
For each option, score each criterion 1–10 and calculate the weighted total.
Output: Markdown table with options as rows, criteria as columns (showing score × weight), and a weighted total column. Add a brief rationale for each score.
Provide the weights yourself — if you let Claude assign weights, the matrix will reflect Claude's priorities, not yours.
Checklist: Do You Understand This?
- Research brief: always specify the decision or purpose — research without a goal produces unfocused output
- Comparison table: add a "Best for" column to force a synthetic recommendation rather than just feature lists
- Gap analysis: include constraints (budget, timeline) — gaps without feasibility context are not actionable
- SWOT: add a "So what" paragraph request — the conclusion is what makes the analysis useful
- Decision matrix: provide your own criteria weights — don't let Claude decide what matters most to you