ELEMENTS OF A PROPOSAL

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 Proposal Contents
 Introduction
 Literature Review
 Justification
 Benefits
 Project Objectives
 Outputs
 Methodology
 Task Outline
 Staffing Requirements
 Budget
 Funding Plan
 Training Plan
 Project Schedule
 Organizational Chart

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 Introduction

- This section will include an introduction to the project that covers the following with any
relevant details:

1. Stating the purpose of the study

2. Where the concept originated from

3. In depth information on the project itself and what it will do in general (leaving the details of
this for the objectives)

 Literature Review

- A review of the literature in the field is presented providing both sides of the coin.

- Be updated on your references, in order to show that you are aware of the latest developments
within your field

- Present the PROS

- Present the CONS

- So that you have an OBJECTIVE perspective

- Eliminate research bias

- To give your proposal a strong position when subject to debate

 Justification

- Justify your project proposal on:

- Scientific/Technical grounds

- It is needed, and important to conduct

- It is differentiated

- Articulate the expected VALUE ADDED

- On economic grounds – showing that it is feasible/cost-effective, or

- Or that it could be justified otherwise

 Benefits

- Articulate the benefits that will arise from the outputs of this project, whether they are scientific
or economic or otherwise

- Benefits to the team / Capacity building – training of project staffers

- New skills learned may be an excellent benefit, worth more than financial or economic gains to
an institution

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- Knowledge accumulation benefits

- Maybe this project will be a stepping stone toward another

 Project Objectives

- Clear

- Concise

- Do-able (within the provided resources that include time, funds and the project team)

 Project Outputs

- Clear and concise outputs that correspond clearly to project inputs

- Outputs are measurable

- Outputs are subject to evaluation

- Did the project achieve its objectives

 Methodology

- Is critical.

- It is the road map to achieving the objectives of the research.

- Demonstrate a full and detailed proficiency of the methodological tools that you will use and
follow in order to accomplish the objectives of the project.

- Show a profound understanding of OPTIONS so that you can justify your CHOICE.

 Task Outline

- The project will be broken down into several tasks:

- Each task will commit resources to accomplish a specific end

- Tasks maybe simultaneous or they may be concurrent and sequential

 Staffing Requirements

- Do not forget that your PROJECT TEAM IS A VITAL RESOURCE

- Allocate your manpower amongst the tasks of the project effectively (in order to accomplish
your project objectives)

- According to their backgrounds/training and experience (Note: the Learning Curve)

- Responsibility toward manpower development

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 Budget

- Budgets are relative from one place to another

- Resource costs differ from one place to another (manpower too)

- Sense what is reasonable

- Abide by budget forms and formats

- Professional content and presentation, with the required detail

- Consult with someone from finance, especially the first time

 Funding

Research proposals maybe submitted for funding to:

1. International organizations

2. Local/Regional organizations

3. Universities/research centers/industry

4. Interesting cooperative/consortium type research may be developed

5. Allows for sharing resources and reducing duplication

 Funding

Objectives of the project are closely matched to those of the funder.

 Training

- One of the main outcomes of any project is TRAINING and CAPACITY BUILDING

- The Learning Curve

- Formal Training (courses, workshops, seminars, conferences)

- On the job training (OJT)

- This element called KNOWLEDGE, unlike others, may be carried to the next project and
accumulated and built upon.

 Project Schedule

 Organizational Chart

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  References & Resume

- Provide the reference list at the end of your proposal, in addition to your resume along with key
project members, like the project leader, principal investigator….., to substantiate your
credibility in carrying out the project.

Here is a list of resources that can help you in writing a better proposal.
- 1. Writing up research

- spsp.clarion.edu

- 2. Writing your research proposal

- www.lums.lans.ac.uk

- 3. Proposal preparation, Office of research

- www.nd.edu

- 4. Guide for writing a funding proposal

- www.learnerassociates.net

- 5. Writing a good grant proposal

Research.microsoft.com

 Proposal Writing Guides

- Texas A&M University - How To Write A Grant Proposal -- A comprehensive how-to guide from
Texas A&M. It includes an excellent outline geared toward the novice proposal writer.

- University of Vermont -- A paper entitled "How to Improve Your Score When Submitting a Grant
Proposal" by Dr. David R. Hemenway, Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental
Engineering at UVM.

- University of Wisconsin - Madison -- Proposal writing and Internet resources.The Research

Administration Tool Box -- A collection of links from the Office of Sponsored Programs at
Pennsylvania State University. In addition to information specifically for Penn State researchers,
there are sections that deal with proposal guides, Federal regulations, and links to forms used by
a variety of agencies.

- The Proposal Writer's Guide, from the University of Michigan's Office of the Vice President for
Research, systematically discusses each aspect of a proposal with many good examples and
suggestions.

- Beginners Guide to the Research Proposal -- This site includes a variety of suggestions on how to
get your first proposal onto paper.

- Proposal Writing & Research Development -- A set of "Proposal Development Tools" and
relevant links from the Office of Research Affairs at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

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- Guide to Grant Proposal Writing - New Jersey State Library/Thomas Edison State College -- An
illustrative

 Common Criticisms and Shortcomings

- Broad topic areas which would be unmanageable

- Vague descriptions of research areas

- It is not clear what question is being addressed by the proposal.

- It is not clear why the question is worth addressing

- The proposal is just a routine application of known techniques.

- Industry ought to be doing it instead. If the work is `near market' then it should be done by
industry or industry or venture capital should be funding you to do it. If no industry is interested
then the prima facie assumption is that the product has no commercial value.

- The proposers seem unaware of related research. Related work must be mentioned, if only to be
dismissed. Otherwise, the committee will think that the proposers are ignorant and, therefore,
not the best group to fund.

- The proposed research has already been done - or appears to have been done. Rival solutions
must be discussed and their inadequacies revealed.

- The proposal is badly presented, or incomprehensible to all but an expert in the field. Remember
that your proposal will be read by non-experts as well as (hopefully) experts.