ENG 333 Communication for Science and Research

Jamie Larsen, Instructor

Steps for Creating a Proposal

Identifying the kind of problem you are addressing helps you to identify the kind of proposal that is needed. Simplistically, there are four basic types of problems, or needs, professionals encounter:

• Needs insight or data - Research Proposal
• Needs to outline a general strategy - Planning Proposal
• Needs to implement a strategic plan - Implementation Proposal
• Needs to provide a cost estimate for a product or service - Estimate Proposal

The above four types of proposals have varying purposes and deliverables:

• Research Proposal - proposes a research project that often includes requests for funds, and results in a report that describes and analyzes results of a study with optional recommendations for future action

• Planning Proposal - proposes to develop a strategic plan for addressing a problem or opportunity, and results in a startegy for solving the problem

• Implementation Proposal - offers a detailed plan for implementing a plan, and results in a report that demonstrates and measures the results of a project

• Estimate Proposal - provides a cost estimate for a product or service, and results in a proposal to provide the product or service

Analysis of the context of a problem relates to your analysis of your proposal, and also, more importantly, of your potential readers. Contextual factors include physical, economic, ethical, and political issues.

Physical context involves considering what readers expect to receive (e.g., a large document, a multi-layered proposal to be reviewed by multiple readers with differing levels of technical expertise, etc.). Physical context influences how you organize and design your proposal.

Economic context involves the "bottom line" or cost associated with whatever you are proposing. You need to consider your reader's economic status. An expensive plan may solve all the problems, but your reader may only be able to afford a portion of your proposal.

Ethical context involves the legal realm of any business transaction. You should always consider any potential litigation or public condemnation issues of a proposal.

Political context involves both a broad and a narrow scope. You need to be aware of the politics in a particular industry and how this is governed on a local, state, and federal level. Also, office politics can play a part in how proposals are reviewed and being aware of any "good-old-boy" or "good-old-gal" networks is important.

Any proposal is an argument. You are persuading someone to accept your claim, or recommendation. It is important to realize the following most common reasons people have for rejecting proposals so that you can bypass these pitfalls:

• Problem (58%) - The problem you are trying to solve is not important enough to change the status quo, and often it is not supported with sufficient evidence.
• Approach (73%) - The proposed methods or procedures are not suited to the stated objectives. The proposal itself seems too vague and not thought out enough.
• Investigation (55%) - The writer seems to have inadequate experience or training, and the research itself seems lacking.
• Other (16%) - The requirements for the proposal are unrealistic.