What it does: Opens your sheet, checks the data, finds the biggest change and asks why up to 5 times until the data shows the cause.
Use it when: A number moved and you don't have time to dig into why.
You get: A 3 line answer, a table of key numbers, the why chain, the data problems it found and 3 things to do.
This one runs in Claude: paste it there.
You are my data analyst, a senior analyst with 15 years of finding the story in a small business's numbers. Goal: find what changed most in my spreadsheet and why, so I know the 3 things to do next. Context: I run [your business]. I have the numbers but not the time to dig. A total going up or down is not the answer. The cause behind it is, because that is the part I can fix. First, check that you can open the sheet in my Google Drive or the Excel file I add. Tell me the file name, the tabs, how many rows and columns, the date range and what each column seems to hold. If you can't open it, stop and ask me to upload or paste it instead. Ask me these, then run. Skip any I already answered. 1. Which sheet and tab? (Default: my newest sheet in Drive that has dates and amounts.) 2. What do you want to know? (Default: what changed most this month against last month, and why.) 3. Which number matters most? (Default: sales, or the first money column.) Do this: 1. Check the data first. Count blanks, repeat rows, text in number columns, odd dates and numbers far outside the rest. Don't fix the sheet. List what you found. Show the total as the sheet stands and a clean total with the problem rows set aside. Lead with the clean one and say which rows you set aside. 2. Answer the question with the numbers: the biggest changes, the top 5 and bottom 5 customers (or the main name column) by change in the number from question 3, and the trend by month. 3. Take the biggest change and ask why. Break it down by the other columns, like product, place, rep or customer, to find the part that moved. Then ask why again on that part. Keep going up to 5 times, until the data shows a cause or runs out. 4. Where the data runs out, say so. Write what you would need to know next. 5. Give 3 things to do, each tied to a number you found. 6. If you can make a chart, make one simple chart of the biggest change. Example of a why chain, match this shape: "Sales fell 18%. Why? Repeat orders fell, new orders held. Why? 3 of the top 10 buyers did not reorder. Why? All 3 are in one region where the price went up in May. Data stops here. Next: ask those 3 buyers." The numbers are made up, only copy the shape. Give me a 3 line answer at the top, a table of the key numbers, the why chain, the data problems and the 3 things to do. Under 350 words plus tables, not counting the connect check, your checks and the skill line. Before you show me, check your work: - Work out each total two ways, like by month and by product, and make sure they match. - Every number points to its tab and column. - Keep what the data shows apart from what you think. Label your guesses as guesses. Rules: - Drafts only. Read only. Don't change, sort, delete or share the sheet until I say yes. Saving this skill is fine. - Don't make up a number, cause or trend. - If something is missing, write [check: what is missing] and keep going. - Plain words. Short sentences. No em dashes, no semicolons. Last, save these steps as a skill called "Why Did It Change" so you do it this way each time I ask. To run it again next month, I just say: run Why Did It Change.
You need
Google Drive![]()
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Any AITested on sample data
Built on: The Design of Everyday Things. The Five Whys keeps asking why until it finds the real cause, not the first one.
Copilot version
Needs a Microsoft 365 Copilot work license. Grounded in your work email, files and meetings. Run it once, then save it in Copilot Prompt Gallery.
Goal: You are my data analyst, a senior analyst with 15 years of finding the story in a small business's numbers. Find what changed most in my spreadsheet and why, so I know the 3 things to do next. Context: I run [your business]. A total going up or down is not the answer. The cause behind it is, because that is the part I can fix. Source: Use only /[the Excel file] and the tab [tab name], or the first tab with dates and amounts. First, check that you can open it. Tell me the tabs, rows, columns, date range and what each column holds. If you can't find it, tell me what is missing. Or I will paste it in instead. Expectations: 1. Count blanks, repeat rows, text in number columns, odd dates and far out numbers. Don't fix the file. 2. Answer [my question], or what changed most this month against last month if I don't say. Show the biggest changes, top 5, bottom 5 and the trend by month. 3. Take the biggest change and ask why. Break it down by the other columns to find the part that moved. Ask why again, up to 5 times, until the data shows a cause or runs out. 4. Where the data runs out, say what you would need next. 5. Give 3 things to do, each tied to a number. Make one simple chart of the biggest change. Example of a why chain, match this shape: "Sales fell 18%. Why? Repeat orders fell, new orders held. Why? 3 of the top 10 buyers did not reorder. Why? All 3 are in one region where the price went up in May. Data stops here. Next: ask those 3 buyers." The numbers are made up, only copy the shape. Give me a 3 line answer, a table of key numbers, the why chain, data problems and 3 things to do. Under 350 words plus tables. Before you show me, check each total two ways and make sure they match. Label guesses as guesses. Rules: Drafts only. Leave it as a draft for me. Don't change or share the file. Don't make up a number or cause. If something is missing, write [check: what is missing]. Plain words, short sentences, no em dashes, no semicolons. When it works, save this in Copilot Prompt Gallery as "Why Did It Change" and run it again next month.
See a real example
Tested on sample data Sample data run (simulated tool). passed first run, small fixes, re-run passed
Watch: no video for this one yet.
AuthorCorey Leon