That is absolutely the only requirement for it to be correct. Words are defined by the way people use them, and that can change over time. A dictionary is a record, not a rulebook.
It's only a certain subset of the population that speaks like this. It's pompous and ridiculous. Are the two syllables in the word "request" one too many for people working in Product?
Most people only use a subset of language, and a lot of language is used only by a small subset of people. "The Ask" is in mainstream usage - or at least known to - the target audience of TFA, which may not include you.
ask
noun [ C usually singular ]
uk/ɑːsk/ us
/æsk/
ask noun [C usually singular] (REQUEST)
the act of asking someone to do something or give you something such as money:
The message came with "an ask", meaning users were asked to do something upon receiving it.
make the ask He was an aggressive fundraiser who worked the phones fanatically and had no hesitation about making the ask.