Advanced Prompt Engineering Techniques

Advanced Prompt Engineering Techniques

• Advanced prompting techniques are used for multi-turn conversations and iterative refinements.
• Real-world scenarios like procurement, public engagement, and HR tasks are explored.
• Adaptive prompts are created to handle complex governance challenges.
• Prompts are refined to improve precision, relevance, and quality.

Meeting Agenda

• Prompt Structures
• Multi-Step Techniques
• Use Cases in Local Govt
• Live Exercise
• Q&A / Wrap Up

Week 3 Learning Objectives

• Master advanced prompting techniques for multi-turn conversations and iterative refinements.
• Explore real-world scenarios such as procurement, public engagement, and HR tasks.
• Practice creating adaptive prompts to handle complex governance challenges.
• Refine prompts to improve precision, relevance, and quality.

Why Advanced Prompting Is Essential

• Move beyond basic tasks with clarity and focus.
• Handle nuanced scenarios such as legal drafting, budget analysis, and public outreach.
• Use ChatGPT as a dynamic tool for complex governance needs based on document type.
• Simple prompts are ineffective for situations requiring multiple steps to achieve a result.

Advanced Question-Answer Techniques

• Use context-rich questions to elicit comprehensive insights.
• Break down complex queries, such as analyzing reports or summarizing public feedback.
• Example question: What are the top three challenges identified in the community feedback survey, and what solutions were proposed?

Advanced Question-Answer Techniques - Use Case

• Based on community feedback, the top three challenges for a Regional Transit Plan are limited service hours, expanded service hours and funding allocation.
• Solutions included: expanding service hours, including early mornings, evenings, and weekends.

Advanced Question-Answer Techniques - Follow Up Question

• Based on the study, implementing microtransit services is a feasible and cost effective solution.
• Microtransit services are targeted for areas with low population density and limited fixed-route services.
• Lower operational costs are achieved with micro transit by decreasing unnecessary mileage and fuel.

Multi-Turn Conversations - Initial Steps

• Use iterative prompts to refine complex responses.
• Use Case Example: Drafting a purchase contract for a new fleet vehicle.
• Starter Prompt: Draft a purchase contract template for the town's acquisition of a new fleet vehicle.

Multi-Turn Conversation Example

• The example includes a purchase contract template for a town fleet vehicle acquisition, including payment terms, delivery and acceptance, warranties and risks of loss.

Multi-Turn Conversation Example - Continued

• Prompts included warranty details for parts and labor for three years.

Multi-Turn Conversation Example - Continued (Key Terms)

• The summary of key terms included parties, description of vehicles, price, payment terms, delivery, inspection, warranties, risk of loss, indemnities, jurisdiction, miscellaneous, complete agreement and any amendments.

Persona Prompt Structure

• Assign ChatGPT a professional role (e.g. "Functional Persona") to generate detailed responses.
• Example Roles: Human Resources, Legal, Planners, etc.
• Example Prompt: Act as a human resources director with 20 years of experience in preparing job descriptions.

Persona Prompt Structure - Stakeholder Personas

• These personas represent individuals or groups with vested interests in a specific outcome.
• Example Personas: Executive, board member, customer.
• Example Prompt: Simulate a customer and list five potential concerns about adopting a product.

Persona Prompt Structure - Audience Personas

• Tailoring outputs for different audiences (employees, partners, or customers).
• Example Personas: Employee, Partner, Customer.
• Example Prompt: Tailor a product overview for partners, emphasizing collaboration opportunities.

Advanced Prompt Format - Chain of Thought

• A technique to guide ChatGPT through a structured thought process.
• prompts are broken down into smaller parts, and conclude by asking to 'explain step by step'.

Easter Egg Hunt Press Release - Chain of Thought

• Write a press release announcing the Easter egg hunt location and date.
• Highlight the event's family-friendly aspects for the announcement (headline, tone, and most exciting aspects).
• Outline a step-by-step approach to structure this content.

Easter Egg Hunt Press Release - Chain of Thought (Continued)

• Announcement about the annual Easter Egg Hunt
• Details about the date, time and location of the Easter Egg Hunt
• Details of activities at the Easter Egg Hunt
• Contact information for the Parks and Recreation Department

Chain of Thought Example 2

• Create a public procurement contract for lawn cutting in Promptville.
• Cover services from May 1, 2025 to September 30, 2025.
• Include subsections outlining different aspects of the contract (Introduction, Scope of Work, Legal compliance, payment terms, termination and dispute resolution).

Document Analysis

• Analyze two versions of policy documents and identify updated, added, or removed sections and clauses.
• Summarize major updates.
• Recommend revisions and clarifications.

Hands-on Exercise - Summarize and Explore Transcripts

• Identify members present at NCDPS meetings.
• List topics discussed at each meeting and those discussed in both meetings.
• Identify key metrics/performance measures discussed (from minutes).
• Prepare a summary of the combined meeting discussions for the board.

Debrief on Hands-on Exercises

• Discussion points about multi-turn prompts, refinement challenges, and small-town governance benefits associated with these advanced prompting techniques.

Key Takeaways

• Master advanced techniques like multi-turn prompts, personas, and chain of thought prompting.
• Use ChatGPT for real-world needs (contracts, HR, public communication, and meeting transcripts).
• Continuous iteration in prompting improves accuracy, clarity, and relevance.