Artificial Intelligence is changing how professionals work, but many conversations focus almost entirely on prompt engineering.
Prompt quality matters, but effective AI use requires more than better prompts.
Two frameworks I’ve been exploring recently are PACE and COSTAR.
PACE (Plan, Analyze, Construct, Execute), used in Google’s Advanced Data Analytics program, provides a structured workflow for solving business and data problems.
COSTAR (Context, Objective, Style, Tone, Audience, Response), developed by Sheila Teo, provides a framework for constructing clear and effective prompts.
I view them as complementary rather than competing frameworks:
• PACE helps define and solve the problem.
• COSTAR helps communicate with the AI.
• Together they improve the quality of both the process and the outcome.
As AI becomes more integrated into professional practice, the differentiator may not be who writes the most sophisticated prompts, but who combines structured thinking with effective AI interaction.
What frameworks or approaches have improved your work with AI?
—
Robert Foreman
Doctoral Candidate – Educational Technology
Central Michigan University
Research Focus:
AI-Augmented Exploratory Learning (AAEL)
How Professionals Learn with AI
Website: NhanceData.com
Email: forem1r@cmich.edu