1. Porposals &
Progress Reports
Proposals and Progress Reports

2. Business Proposal
 Watch the suggested video and work out a
definition for the suggested term.

3. Proposal?
 Describes work that is suggested
 Tells why it should be done

4. Progress Report?
 Describes and evaluates a project as work
is being done
 It is an official and legal record of work

5. Academic Proposal
 An academic proposal is the first step in producing a
thesis or major project. Its intent is to convince a
supervisor or academic committee that your topic and
approach are sound, so that you gain approval to
proceed with the actual research. As well as indicating
your plan of action, an academic proposal should show
your theoretical positioning and your relationship to past
work in the area.

6. Structure of Academic Proposal
 An academic proposal is expected to contain these elements:
 a rationale for the choice of topic, showing why it is important or
useful within the concerns of the discipline or course. It is sensible
also to indicate the limitations of your aims—don't promise what
you can't possibly deliver.
 a review of existing published work ("the literature") that relates to
the topic. Here you need to tell how your proposed work will build
on existing studies and yet explore new territory
 an outline of your intended approach or methodology (with
comparisons to the existing published work), perhaps including
costs, resources needed, and a timeline of when you hope to get
things done.

7. Business Proposal
 A business proposal is a written document that offers a particular product
or service to a potential buyer or client. There are generally two kinds of
business proposals: solicited business proposals (which are submitted in
response to an advertisement published by the buyer or client) and
unsolicited proposals (submitted or given out to potential buyers or
clients even though they are not requesting for one).

8. Business Proposal vs. Business Plan
Quite often, the terms “business proposal” and “business plan” are used
interchangeably, giving you the impression that they are one and the same.
But they are not.
A business proposal is created to offer a product or service to a buyer or
client. On the other hand, a business plan is a “formal statement of a set of
business goals” and how these would be achieved. The latter is only part of
what is included in a business proposal.

9. Progress Report
 When a soliciting organization requests a proposal, it often states
that a certain number of progress reports will be required,
particularly if the project covers a long time period.
 Progress reports, usually submitted at agreed intervals, tell readers
how a project coming along.
 A progress report has three main purposes:
 1. To explain to the reader what has been accomplished, the status
of the work and problems encountered.
 2. To explain to the client how money and time have been spent
and what work remains to be done.
 3. To enable the organization or individual to assess the work and
plan future work

10. Business Proposal Structure
 Description: This section will consist of a brief description of your
company and the purpose you are writing this business proposal for.
 Executive Summary: The executive summary section consists of a
detailed explanation of what your company is all about and the field it has
an expertise in. You also need to mention the objective of your company
in brief, followed by corporate goals.
 Main Body: This is the most important section of the business proposal. It
contains a comparison of what the client expects and what services you
are ready to offer. Jot down all the customer's needs and how your
company can meet his expectations. Also mention additional services and
benefits your company offers. Give details of who are the well-known
clients you have worked with and on which projects. Provide details on if
you have received any awards for business deliverables

11. Business Proposal Format
 If required, give details of financial records and profits and losses of
your company. This will certainly assure the prospective client
about your business' credibility.
 At last, include a paragraph that will include the assurance of you
certainly providing the services according to the client's expectations.

12. Proposal
 All projects begin somewhere. In universities, in
business and in research organizations, the
starting point is often proposal.
 A proposal is an offer to provide a service or a
product to someone in exchange for money.
 When an organization wants work done, it
wants the best work done for the best price.
 It may advertise the work and invites contacts
from interested parties.

13. Proposal
 In a university, the research and grants office
may notify departments that money is available
for research.
 Faculty members are invited to submit research
proposals.
 Proposals will state the following:
 Time needed to complete the project,
 List financial involvement

14. Proposal
 Release time from regular teaching duties
 Describe the goals and benefits of the research
to the researcher and University.

15. Proposal Cycle, Preparation Side
Soliciting Co. Submitting Co.
⇓
RFP (Request for Proposal)
⇓
SOW (Statement of Work)
⇓
RFQ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒Decides to Submit Proposal
⇓
Planning Process
⇓
First Draft ⇒Final Draft
⇓
Corrections, Printing, Binding

16. Proposal Cycle, Selection Side
Soliciting Co. Submitting Co.
Receives Proposals ⇐ ⇐ ⇐ ⇐ ⇐ ⇐ ⇐ ⇐ ⇐ ⇐ Ships Proposal
from various
companies
⇓
Evaluates Proposals
⇓
Selects Finalists
⇓
Evaluates Finalists’ Oral Presentations
⇓
Selects and Announces Acceptance of Bid

17. Standard Proposal Sections
 Summary
 Project Description (technical proposal)
 Introduction
 Rationale and Significance
 Plan of Work
 Scope
 Methods
 Task Breakdown
 Problem Analysis
 Facilities

18. Standard Proposal Sections
 Personnel (management proposal)
 Cost (cost proposal)
 Conclusion
 Appendixes

19. Progress Report Structured By Work
Performed
 Beginning
 Introduction/project description
 Summary
 Middle
 Work completed or Task 1
Task 1 Work completed
Task 2, etc. Work remaining

20. Progress Report Structured By Work
Performed
 Middle, cont’d.
 Work remaining or Task 2
Task 3 Work completed
Task 4 Work remaining
 End
 Overall appraisal of progress to date
 Conclusion and recommendations

21. Progress Report Structured By
Chronological Order
 Beginning
 Introduction/project description
 Summary of work completed
 Middle
 Work completed
Period 1 (beginning and ending dates)
Description
Cost
Period 2 (beginning and ending dates)
Description
Cost

22. Progress Report Structured By
Chronological Order
 Middle, cont’d.
 Work remaining
Period 3 (or remaining periods)
Description of work to be done
Expected cost
 End
 Evaluation of work in this period
 Conclusions and recommendations

23. Progress Report Structured By Main
Project Goals
 Beginning
 Introduction/project description
 Summary
 Middle
 Work completed or Goal 1
Goal 1 Work completed
Goal 2, etc. Work remaining
Goal 3, etc. Cost

24. Progress Report Structured By Main
Project Goals
 Middle
 Work completed or Goal 1
Goal 1 Work completed
Goal 2, etc. Work remaining
Goal 3, etc. Cost
 Work remaining or Goal 2
Goal 1 Work completed
Goal 2 Work remaining
Goal 3, etc. Cost

25. Progress Report Structured By Main
Project Goals
 End
 Overall appraisal of progress to date
 Conclusion and recommendations

26. Relationship between Proposals and Progress Reports.
 Proposals describes work that is suggested,
justification for it and methods for the work.
Progress Reports describes and evaluates work
being done over a period of time until
conclusion.
Thus if a job is proposed especially that which
will be done over a period of time, a progress
report must naturally follow.