Problem-Solution Proposal

(Title Page)

PROPOSAL FOR

(State what the proposal is about )

Prepared for

Name

Title

By

Name

Title

Date

Transmittal Letter

Your Name and address

Name and address of receiver of proposal

Dear Ms./Mr. (name of receiver)

· An opening statement, introducing the the proposal to the reader

· A statement of the problem you want to solve and why it needs to be solved

· Your proposed solution and why it will work

· A goodwill close that looks forward to future discussion or opportunities to

help

(Appropriate Closing),

(Your name)

NOTE: THIS IS WHERE YOU REALLY WORK HARD TO SELL THE PROPOSAL TO THE CEO THAT YOU ARE WRITING TO. YOU NEED TO CONVINCE HIM TO READ ON.

WRITE THIS LAST!

Table of Contents

Here you will create a table of contents, which should be neat and professional-looking.

Executive Summary

The Executive Summary, which should be no more than 1-2 paragraphs long and contain no outside sources, SHOULD BE WRITTEN LAST and should provide a summary of:

· The Problem

· The Solution

· The Work Plan

· The Cost-Benefit

NOTE: THIS IS WHERE YOU STATE THE MAIN POINTS OF THE PROPOSAL, AS IF SOMEONE WERE TO SAY: TELL ME WHAT THIS PROPOSAL IS ABOUT IN A PARAGRAPH OR TWO.

Introduction

This introduction, which should be no more than a page long and should not use outside sources, should include, using appropriate headings:

1. The purpose of the proposal: A very short introduction to why you are writing this proposal.

2. Your contact information.

3. Who the proposal is written for.

4. The date of the proposal and the date when the solution/work plan will be put into effect.

Problem/Need Statement and Analysis

This section should be at least a page long and should include 2-3 (correctly APA formatted) citations from outside sources (and your analysis of them), should include, using appropriate headings:

1. Description of problem or need supported with facts, statistics or other relevant evidence that proves the problem exists.

2. Who and/or what the problem is affecting supported with facts, statistics or other relevant evidence.

3. Why the problem needs a solution supported with facts, statistics or other relevant evidence.

Solution Analysis

This section should be at least a page long and should include 2-3 (correctly APA formatted) citations from outside sources (and your analysis of them), should include, using appropriate headings:

1. Description of the solution supported with facts, statistics or other relevant evidence that proves the solution can work.

2. An explanation of strategies that will be used to make the solution happen. In other words, what needs to be done to solve this problem? This is an explanation of the work that needs to be done in the work plan.

3. A description of what will be created and/or what will change once the problem is solved Who or what will this help? What will increase or decrease? What would the long term effects be?

Work Plan

This section, which should be at least a page long, should include, using appropriate headings/charts:

1. A step by step plan describing each activity needed to implement the solution, when each step will take place and how long it will take.

2. Total number of people it will take to implement the solution and job descriptions for all of those people.

Budget/Cost Analysis

This section should be at least a page long and should include 1-2 (correctly APA formatted) citations from outside sources (and your analysis of them), should include, using appropriate headings/charts:

1. The costs and pricing for implementing the work plan.

2. Source of funds, where the money for the solution will come from.

3. Cost benefit analysis for implementing the objectives.

NOTE: IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT YOU ARE NOT YET WORKING IN THIS INDUSTRY, BUT, BASED ON YOUR RESEARCH, COMPLETE THIS SECTION USING THE BEST ESTIMATIONS THAT YOU CAN.

Evaluation

This section should be at least a page long and should include 1-2 (correctly APA formatted) citations from outside sources (and your analysis of them), should include, using appropriate headings/charts:

1. A  Strength-Weakness-Opportunities-Threat (SWOT) analysis of the work plan that shows how the proposed plan builds on strengths, resolves weaknesses, uses opportunities, and avoids threats related to the company/industry.

2. Issues that can stop or hold up the work plan.

3. Contingency plans: Plans for what can be done if any of the issues arise.

Conclusion

This introduction, which should be no more than a page long and should not use outside sources, should:

· Clearly ask for what you want

· State the strongest benefits of the solution.

· Describe what the “solution” will “look like”. Paint a picture.

· Ask for “next steps” in getting approval.

END STRONG! LEAVE THE READER CONVINCED!

References

This page should contain all sources used in the proposal, alphabetized and carefully APA formatted. You should refer to Purdue OWL to ensure that you are formatting your entries correctly.

The best way to have a correctly formatted and complete References page is to enter the information for the source here each time you cite a new source in the text.