Write a formal proposal letter seeking my approval for the project that will become your Project 5: Formal Analytical Report. This proposal is the first document in a series of tasks which will culminate in that final project.
Your audience for this letter is me, your instructor. Think of me as someone who wants to be sure that you choose a project from which you can learn a great deal and on which you can do a good job. I need to be convinced that this project is important to you and that you have the ability to complete it.
Your proposal should persuade me that a significant business challenge exists in a real organization and that you should be permitted to address it. You do not have to have the solution to the problem at this time; rather you are suggesting that the organization must invest its faith in you to research and devise a solution.
After you have convinced me of a need for your work, include a detailed description of your work plan. Will you go to the library and research the latest techniques in your field? Will you investigate the cost of new equipment? Will you talk to people who have solved the problem for other organizations? Will you research social media communication plans? Some combination of these? Convince me that this plan for research is the right path leading to a solution and that the time exists in this semester to do the work well.
This work plan must also be plotted with time; you must indicate what work you will be doing during each of the weeks left in the semester. You should also have sections of your proposal detailing your qualifications to do this work.
While I am willing to consider a wide range of topics for your report, you must persuade me that you have chosen a worthwhile issue that you are capable of handling well. In reading your proposal letter, I will be looking for answers to the following questions:
What business challenge will your report address? Have you clearly defined a conflict between a desired situation and the current situation? Have you provided enough background detail about the organization? Is the problem statement clear?
Who is affected by the situation? Who will be the audience for your final report? What is your position in relationship to the audience?
Why is this challenge significant for this final audience? What is at stake?
Do you have a possible feasible solution for the problem? Have you established what a good solution would require? Have you thought about alternative plausible solutions?
What makes you qualified to carry out the project? How is the topic related to your major? Your career plans? I prefer projects that give you practice using the skills you will need in your career.
What will it take to gather the necessary information and complete your analysis? Can you complete your report in the time left in this semester, using the resources readily available to you?
Do you have a work plan for your project, a plan that shows specifically when certain activities must be completed this semester if you are to finish the project on time?
