TOPIC 8 WRITING AND PRESENTING

PROPOSALS
A Research Proposal
-to convince others that you have a research
project worth doing and that you have the skills
and competency to successfully complete it
-should contain information about all the key
elements involved in the research

Questions to address
a. What are you studying?
Your research proposal should identify the
subject or topic of research
b. Who is it for?
identify the stakeholders involved in the
research project who is funding the project,
possible sponsors, etc.
c. What do you wish to do?
Outline clearly what you intend to do once
approval is given.

d. What do you hope to accomplish?

- the significance of your research project.
What are your goals in carrying out this research?
How will the research findings contribute to the
field of knowledge in general, or benefit
stakeholders and the nation?
e. Why do you want to do it?
Explain your reasons for doing the study, including
possible benefits accruing from doing it.
f. How are you going to do it?
Describe the procedures and methods you would
use to gather data and data analysis, including the
tests to be carried out etc.

Questions to be addressed by
research proposals

Criteria of a Research Proposal

a.A cover page, with the subject heading, your name as
the writer, the degree you are working for, and the name
of the institution conferring it.
b. A problem statement, i.e. the idea or research area
that you propose to investigate.
c. Limitations of study. You need to define the limits of
your research project in terms of scope, sampling,
questions asked and methods employed.

d. A literature review of important works already

carried out in the field so as to give your readers
state-of-the-art perspective.
e. A detailed research plan, with an outline of
appropriate research methods.
f. A time line for the various stages of the research.
g. A statement on the type and availability of
resources you intend to use for your research.

8.3 WRITING A RESEARCH PROPOSAL

i.Stakeholders and their Concerns
A research project involves several parties
besides you (the proposal writer) the people
who will supervise the project (your tutor or
supervisor), the people in the institution you are
working for, and the people in the organisation
where the research is being carried out.
ii. Critical Factors in Proposal Evaluation
a. It clarifies the objectives of the research
project;
b. It enhances understanding of the steps and
processes
required by the project;
c. It provides people with information that will
help them make decisions about the project;

Tips for refining your research proposal

Keep filtering and redefining your title
Talk about your ideas to your friends or supervisor.
Write brief notes especially on your area of interest.
Read through your proposal and put it aside for a
while, then come back to it and reread it; reflect on it.
Keep and take notes
Mull over the write-up because you might find things
you wish to change.
Sort out the various sub-topics so that they are in
order.
Carry out referencing so that you acknowledge other
peoples work.

OTHER TYPES OF PROPOSALS

i.Formal and Informal Proposals
a) A formal proposal
-submitted by or through an organisation such
as a school, college, university, non-profit
organisation or museum to an organisation such as
a foundation, funding agency or corporation
-written in a business-like manner,
straightforward, direct and precise
- It informs readers about the purpose, aims
and benefits accruing from the study
b) An informal proposal
-written neatly in a structured manner like the
formal proposal but on a smaller scale and
normally carries less weight than a formal
proposal.

Business Proposals
Business in the nineties means fierce
competition, aggressive marketing and
strategic alliances. The extent to which a
business succeeds or fails often depends on that
business ability to be awarded contracts or to
attract other businesses into joint ventures or
strategic alliances.
June Campbell, 2002

Why Business Proposals are developed

June Campbell (2002)
1.A business company has called for tenders or has
invited you to submit a Request for Proposal (RFP).
Your proposal must stand out among possibly dozens
of submissions.
2. You have an idea, concept or project that you want
to propose to someone with the goal of gaining
support, funding or an alliance. Your proposal must
make a favourable impression.

Guidelines for a good business proposal

-A form of business proposal that aims to an

overview of the primary issues related to a
business idea.
-to identify any make or break issues that may
prevent your business from being successful
-determines whether a business idea makes sense
or not
-a brief, formal analysis of a prospective business
idea
-goal is to give the entrepreneur a clear evaluation
of the potential for sales and profit from a
particular idea. -focus on market size and shares,
competing products or services, the pricing
structure and the likely sales and profits of the
prospective business
Focus on:- i. Market issues;
ii. Organisational/technical issues; and

a. Market issues
Market analysis is critical to the success of the
business.
- through research to know the adequate demand
for your product or service
b. Organisational/Technical Issues
-

explore the organisational and technology needs

of the proposed business
organisational structure and human resource as
well as the equipment needed and costs involved

c. Financial Issues
-research key financial issues such as start-up
costs (costs incurred at the start of a new
business), operating costs (rent, utilities,
wages), revenue projections, financing and
profitability analysis
Feasibility study proposal should:
i. Map out a projects strengths and
potential;
ii. Analyse and predict the impact of
expansion;
iii. Highlight the pros and cons of your idea;
and
iv. Project profits and growth.

A sample table of content for a feasibility study proposal

Summary

A research proposal aims to convince others that you

have a worthwhile research project and that you have
the competency and skills to successfully complete it.
Every proposal addresses certain key questions in
research what, for whom, how, why, etc.
A research proposal comprises key elements including
an introduction, problem statement, research
methodology, analysis, conclusion and bibliography.
Some research studies require you to find sponsors to
fund the project.

Proposals can be formal or informal. Informal

proposals usually do not aim to get funding or an
academic degree.
Business or marketing research proposals need to be
clearly written in order to help you win that contract.
A feasibility study is another form of business
proposal. It can be considered a brief formal analysis
of a prospective business idea to determine whether it
makes sense.