Write an internal formal Proposal (see Fig 12.9 - p390 for one example), based upon your group's collaborative work. You must convince the project manager (the professor) that your proposal for improving a business is better than some other (imaginary) team's proposal, and worthy of moving forward with a consulting contract to the business you are researching.

Read and analyze Chapters 12, 13 and 14 in your text. With this proposal you should demonstrate a clear sense of writing to persuade. You will basically be proposing approval of the topic for your major report here and a justification of why I, as project manager, should accept that topic to be researched and funded by this consulting company. Include all the of the elements of a long internal proposal. These elements include "Front Matter," containing a cover sheet and a transmittal memorandum, along with elements of the proposal "Body," including an introduction, a technical plan, a management plan, a conclusion, and also include appendices where necessary. Direct this proposal to: Dr. Michael O'Conner, English 210 Professor

See the desired headings/elements of the Proposal/Justification report memo below.

Typical Memo headings before the introduction.

Your proposal body should contain the following sections:

Introduction:
In the introduction section, state the purpose of the proposal and introduce your topic. Make sure to open with a direct statement that summarizes what the proposal intends to accomplish. Next, focus on the benefits your proposal will bring to your audience (the business being researched) and yourself (as a member of a consulting firm). Briefly summarize the methods you will use to decide upon the included elements of your major report. End the introduction by focusing on why these choices are the best ones that could be made for yourself and your topic in relationship to the business under consideration.

Technical Plan:
Technical plans are specific and concrete and often include visual aids to illustrate their description of procedures and projected goals. Within the plan itself, explain the circumstances that gave rise to the topic, both the background of the problem/situation/topic and your role in relation to it. Describe the steps that you will take to achieve the proposal's specific objectives. As appropriate, include the following categories of information: the methods that you will use to complete the task; the types of data that will be collected; the results that can be expected at each stage of the project; and quality-control techniques. Include a list of the personnel, facilities and equipment needed to implement the proposal--and especially demonstrate your understanding of the scope of this project by mentioning or refering to many of the various elements of a model report. Also clearly state what the proposal will--and will not--accomplish. Provide clear and descriptive headings for the various sections of your technical plan.

Obviously, this will be the heart of your proposal where you delineate to your primary audience the choices you made in chosing your topic, your approaches to your topic, and how it will help your business (consulting firm) and the business being studied. Obviously, include the justifications for those choices. You should describe the criteria you utilized to decide on your topic and your approach to the topic. Persuasive justification of all of your choices will be the key to this document. You may wish to include some sort of visual representation of your chosen subject here or refer to prior research if it is included as an appendix.

Management Plan:
This section of the proposal describes your plans for implementing the research project after it is awarded to you. Here, simply include a preliminary flow chart, schedule, Gantt chart , or Timeline (like the "Work Plan" section see on page 398) to describe the timing and sequencing of project phases, including start dates, progress reports, written draft dates and a final due date.

Cost Analysis: (optional, and probably unnecessary)
Describe any costs for materials, equipment, and labor that you may encounter, if any.

Conclusions:
Conclude with a persuasive statement that once again tries to convince your audience to accept the terms of your proposal. Emphasize how the decisions and approaches your team have chosen better qualify you to be awarded this consulting contract than some other consulting team.

Appendixes:
Include in the appendices all work accomplished so far, especially including evidence of research already completed, group work plans, progress reports, etc.