Proposal Writing

The goal of a proposal is to have your plan approved. It must have a persuasive motivation, a sound plan of action, and measurable outcomes. It's good to limit the proposal to two pages, being as concise and accurate as possible.

Part I: Motivation, background, objectives
What problem does the proposed project address? Why is the problem important? What’s the current situation that the project will improve? What objectives the finished project will meet?

Part II: Plan, methods, time table, outcomes
What’s the plan for making the project happen? What methodology/approach will you use to implement the solution? What are the project milestones? What tools/resources will you employ? What will you get in the end? This is my famous requirement about “show me the money” – what are the work products? Is it a proof of concept, a prototype, a fully functional system/service?

Part III: Evaluation
How will you assess/demonstrate the degree to which the project is successful? What are the criteria by which you measure success?

Part IV: Sustainability
Is the project sustainable? Can be carried out and/or upgraded/improved over time? What do you put in place that others can use for further development?