Essential Business Communications Skills Proposal

BIS 101WI Essential Business Communications Skills Assignment 3: Research Proposal (25 points)

Objectives

● Introduce proposal writing for real-world business contexts ● Write taking in real-world contexts and considering different solutions ● Learn how to structure information and write a proposal-organizational pattern using a memo ● Write a proposal using pattern for proposals (Introduction, Problem / Needs Statement,

Solution, Research Plan, Benefits, Costs) ● Develop research questions (RQs) and in response, formulate a methodology—a research

plan that includes gathering some type of qualitative and/or quantitative primary data (gathered by you) in addition to doing some secondary data gathering (such as data found in journal articles, etc.).

● Relevant chapters: Chapter 8 & 9 (Writing Proposals, Conducting Business Research) ● To lead you to explore a real-world problem or issue that will lead you into a sequence of

assignments such as a longer analytical report wherein you may recommend a particular solution at the end of the report.

Background A proposal is a document where the writer “sells” his/her ideas or services to a prospective audience in a structured, formal manner to obtain permission/funding for the proposal. A proposal can introduce new ideas, provide new strategies, or offer services directed to audiences that are internal (within a company) or external (government agencies, other businesses, etc.) to secure funding. As such, your ability to write a successful proposal that persuades the reader is crucial to help you secure funding, time, or permission in a business context. Proposals deal with “What Is?” and “What Could Be” scenarios. For this assignment, you are to pitch an idea to me (I’m your audience) that will improve a particular local situation in business or organization. Select a local problem that you are interested in improving or fixing. Obtain as much information as you can about the problem by researching industry publications, current journals, local newspapers, etc., and applying this to your understanding of the local issue/problem. For instance, let’s say you are interested in increasing the funding for a local non-profit organization that you support. This could lead you to researching journal articles that address different methods of fund-raising, public outreach, web and mobile promotion for funding, etc., which will then give you an informed perspective as to what is going on at the local level. A successful proposal will incorporate some type of argumentation and successfully convince the audience that this is a viable course of research. Another idea is to address COVID-19, etc., --you choose. The topics below have been selected in the past, which I’m providing to give you a sense of the types of topics you might want to explore (but come up with your own, please):

● Improving CMU bussing system ● Optimizing recycling efforts at CMU ● Improving mental health of students at CMU ● Diversifying Port of Grand Haven expansion into different industries (containers and

cruise ships) ● Improving CMU’s use of sustainable energy practices ● Increasing readership for CM Life print newspaper

Assignment Details Write the proposal in a memo format, which means structuring your information by using section headers, a well-organized OABC framework, clear CLOUD paragraphs, and using the organizational pattern of a proposal, which includes:

a. introduce the topic b. provide problem/needs statement

c. present tentative solution(s) d. present a step-by-step plan for studying the issue in your research methodology section e. provide benefits f. costs g. conclusion

Getting Started Identify a local issue or problem that you see happening in a workplace, an organization, or a place of business that you work(ed) at, frequent, or know here in the Michigan area. Your local issue can be on campus, off-campus, or anywhere in Michigan. The issue should let you gather primary data. This means you gather the data in person or via technology, and if possible, have access to the physical site and stakeholders. You should be able to obtain data from real people (using safe methods of doing this in our current COVID world) to observe, interview, and survey people involved with the issue or problem, etc. In addition, the topic should let you explore/explain the issue more in-depth in the proposal using at least two academic journal article sources that speak to the situation. NOTE: the local situation may not be precisely described in the journal articles, but the techniques in the articles will inform your perspective of the local situation. To start the proposal, come up with 2-3 research questions (RQs). Spend some time formulating your RQs by using these phrasings:

a. “How/Why is . . .?” (Qualitative or fuzzy) b. “What is the Influence/Effect of . . .?” (Quantitative- or numerical-type questions. These

questions are preliminary approaches, so take note that they may change as you perform your research, but you will need to add these to your problem/needs statement.

Writing the Proposal Use section headers. These organize your proposal and help to make it look professional. Use CLOUD paragraphs. Review this concept in the textbook, pgs. 65-70. Use memo header. Address me as your reader. See textbook, pgs. 447-448. Introduction. Start with a “hook” (pulls in your reader) and other introductory information, followed by an agenda to introduce:

a. main subject b. purpose for writing c. state the primary point (this is the main point you discuss in the proposal) d. provide importance of addressing issue e. provide background information briefly f. forecast organization and content of the proposal briefly (e.g. “In the background section of

this memo, I describe____, followed by a tentative solution involving _____.) Problem/Needs Statement In your own words, describe the problem as clearly as possible by outlining what in particular you aim to address (consider using Chapter 8 “what is and what could be,” problem-outcome, cause-effect diagramming to map out your ideas).

In this section, write out the following:
 Define the problem by giving a clear statement as to why it is a problem and briefly, what you see as causes and effects of the problem if not addressed in 2-3 sentences. Identify the stakeholders by identifying the people who are directly or indirectly impacted by the problem that you give in 1-2 sentences (also consider that these may be people that you will contact for your research). Provide relevant literature facts by writing at least 2-4 sentences summing up results from relevant, recent academic journal literature that broadly addresses your issue and offers possible solutions.

Follow APA format for this (see textbook, pgs. 259-261), for help.

Pitt (2016) notes _________ [paraphrase of key source ideas] ___________.

-or-

________ [paraphrase of key source ideas] __________________ (Pitt, 2016).

End with a boiled down bullet list of 2-3 research questions that you are attempting to answer. These research questions need to be wide enough to cover your research and address a perspective that seeks improvements on the issue. For example, notice that the example questions below form a sequence. By comparing and contrasting current techniques at CMU as opposed to other universities, the author can then assess what needs to be done here at CMU to improve recycling.

● RQ1: Which current techniques are used by CMU to recycle? ● RQ2: Which recycling methods are used by other universities? ● RQ3: How can we optimize recycling efforts at CMU?

Solution Provide feasible solutions that you are proposing to the issue/problem and address any opposing arguments. Do remember that solutions are not pie-in-the-sky but are feasible and realistic. Identify several possible solutions that you think could help resolve the issue based on your current understanding of the situation. Include the counterarguments to your solutions by rebutting (countering) these arguments or when too strong, acknowledging them and telling your audience why your solution(s) is/are still the best according to the specific criteria you have discovered. (See textbook, pgs. 237-238, “Resolve Concerns”) Research Methodology/ Plan Provide your research plan timeline in phases. Describe, in phases, the proposed timeline for researching the business proposal project you have chosen for this assignment and how you will go about researching this in a particular order, for example: Phase 1 – Perform library research Phase 2 – Identify sites for secondary data Phase 3 – Interview a subject-matter expert (SME) Phase 4 – Observe/conduct survey of stakeholders Phase 5 – Gather additional data through observation, etc. Phase 6 – Analyze data Phase 7 – Summarize data results Also address what plans you have for gathering data tor both primary data gathering (first-hand surveys, observations, interviews, statistics, government documents) and secondary data (academic journal articles). Benefits Describe the possible benefits of studying the issue/problem for the organization and the benefits to your identified solution(s) briefly (1 paragraph). Costs Project any costs required (since you are needing to do research first) by providing a best guess estimate of the solution you propose (1 paragraph). Take note that cost can mean money, but also loss of manpower, resources, revenue, etc. (see textbook, pg. 216, 5 M’s of Management) Conclusion: Thank the reader and provide your contact information for follow-up regarding the proposal (1-2 sentences).

GRADING CRITERIA

Document length: Final deliverable should 3 pages: 2 pages for the actual proposal and 1 page for references in APA format.

Additional grading criteria below:

Content/Sections

Memo format with headers. Proposal is about solving a real- world problem where a solution is needed, and is well-thought out, analyzed, and presented in clear writing. The author has clearly thought about the issue in multifaceted ways.

Memo has all headers of proposal as described above with content and structure of sections mentioned above.

Chunked paragraphs with one topic per paragraph, and topic sentences indicating what will be addressed in that paragraph / section. Paragraphs are strong and feature enough detail but are not overly long or covering too much. Excellent sentence flow structure.

Introduction and Proposal Proposal effectively uses six opening moves, subject, purpose, and main points, importance of subject, and background info. Also, uses an agenda in the introduction to forecast the organization of the proposal. All section headers and the content are present as described above. The memo reads smoothly and addresses all points required above including Memo Header, Introduction, Problem/needs statement, Solution, Research Method/Plan, Benefits, Costs, Conclusion.

Proposal Background and Solution Well-rounded problem that uses these words (above) and defines the problem, stakeholders, audience, and contexts in detail for the reader to understand the problem, its causes, and effects and solution.

Project research methodology / plan describes the research to be conducted in chronological phases. The phase descriptions use relevant words and concepts in proposal.

Source Use & Grammar

Proposal uses preliminary scholarly research performed by student by writing paraphrases or summaries of applicable journal articles only (at least 2 sources) and uses effective paraphrasing / summarizing and in-text citations using APA.

Sources are based on journal articles that offer techniques or ideas for improvement (not popular newspaper articles, news or questionable websites, or popular media) and are current academic/trade journals.

Excellent grammar, spelling, punctuation, and other style elements.

Memo length is 2 pages of single-spaced paragraphs with blank lines between the paragraphs. The third page is to consist of APA-style references.

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