Writing Proposals

Name: Writing Proposals
Rating: 4.0 (24 reviews)

A proposal is a tool for managing change.

Created byManagement Study Guide

Last updated 7/2019

English

What you'll learn

Why do we write proposals
The proposal genre
The proposal writing process
Analyzing problems and opportunities
Types of proposals
Describing the current situation
Developing a project plan
Developing a project plan
Introduction, costs and benefits
Developing budgets
Writing with style
Designing proposals
Using graphics
The final touches

Course content

1 section • 15 lectures • 1h 5m total length

Introduction4:25
Learn how to write effective proposals by analyzing problems, outlining project plans, budgets, and benefits, while studying client requirements and presenting sealed bids.
Why do we write proposals0:32
The proposal genre1:41
The proposal writing process1:42
Analyzing problems and opportunities4:39
Types of proposals11:28
Explore types of proposals, including internal, solicited, unsolicited, sole-source contracts, and research, planning, implementation, and estimate proposals, with examples of RFPs, RFQs, and RFIs.
Describing the current situation6:27
Developing a project plan9:15
Describing qualification4:25
Describe qualification to build trust and prove your team can implement the plan. Highlight unique strengths through personnel descriptions, management bios, facilities, and past project experience.
Introduction, costs and benefits3:52
Developing budgets6:21
Develop and compare itemized budgets with non itemized budgets, apply flexible and fixed budgets, and classify costs into fixed, variable, and semi variable categories with examples.
Writing with style1:11
Learn to write proposals with plain and persuasive styles, applying plain style to current situation, project plan, and qualifications sections, and persuasive style to introduction and cost and benefits.
Designing proposals2:09
Apply four design principles—balance, alignment, grouping, and consistency—to design proposals with accessible entry points, clear structure, and readable white space.
Using graphics2:39
Explore how graphics in proposals use charts, tables, and pictures to reinforce the written text, tell a simple story, be ethical, and be labeled to engage readers.
Using graphics4:40

Requirements

No prior knowledge is required

Description

As a writer of proposals, you should view change as a friend, a creator of new opportunities to expand your business. Look at it with optimism. A ‘Genre’ is a consistent pattern that both you and your readers recognize as a specific type of document. The proposal genre includes a few important elements that your readers will expect.

The proposal genre is designed to address some fundamental questions:-

•What is the current situation?

•What is needed to improve the current situation?

•What is a good plan for improving the current situation?

•Why is your organization best qualified to do the work?

•How much will the work cost?

•What are the tangible benefits of the plan?

The first step in writing a proposal is to discuss is to define the stasis, or status, of the proposal opportunity. By determining stasis, you can identify the specific problem or opportunity that created the need for the proposal. Some RFPs are brief with a few hundred words describing the project and deadlines. Other RFPs, especially from government agencies, can run on for many pages, detailing the project, goals, and even the types of acceptable solutions.

The first step in determining the stasis of a personal opportunity is to analyze the elements of the writing situation. Journalists use the “5 W and How method” to develop a story. This is, Who, What, Where, When, Why and How. This is an effective method for Proposal writers too, to identify the stasis.

Who this course is for:

Proposal writers
Project managers
Cost Accountants
Analysts
Managers
Management Personnel