Project Proposal @ work

hamesy

hamesy

hamesy

Associate
Joined
22 Nov 2007
Posts
1,751
Location
Staffordshire
Ok guys, I’ve got an idea for what could turn out to be a large project at work and I’ve spoke to my boss about it and he said write up your proposal of what you want to do. Obviously I need to include what I want to do, but should I into detail about the benefits to the company, and details about the software and how it can be configured?

Also what format should I write my proposal, formal or informal?

I've never done anything like this before, so really have no idea.
 
I don't have to write this sort of proposal but I have read quite a few ...

If you want it to be considered seriously you will need to write it in a formal manner, (depending on your company they may have a template or previous example you can refer to). You need to state what is involved, any estimated costs and any savings/benefits to the company.

You also should have a couple of line "management summary" at the begining of the document
 
pendulum666 said:
Do you have MS Project?
Click to expand...

If you do, uninstall it for now; you don't need it.

You need to bullet-point the benefits, long term and short term, to the company and any direct beneficiaries. They'll need to be aware of the cost (both financial and personnel) involved in undertaking the project. They'll need a description of what the project entails.

If you're hoping to build a product, some insight into how it will be used would be helpful. If you're going to be providing a service or changing a process, then you need to describe how it is now, how you're going to change it, what it's going to do when you're done, that sort of thing.

If it's going to important people, keep it clear, concise, rhetorical and avoid too much prose wherever you can, as it won't be read.
 
As said, you don't need MS Project (at least at this stage)

Basically give a few options, i.e. not doing the project, doing the project fully and possibly implementing some of the project if appropriate.
Give some benefits and drawbacks of each option and some guidlines as to how much you think it would cost.

If there is a lot to be gained by doing the project or lots to be lost by not doing the project, this is the sort of thing you need to get across in the proposal.
 
Thanks for the advice so far guys.

I thinking of setting it like this:

Opening paragraph or two explaining my proposal. Then going into detail about the current state of things and then explain how I want to change it. Then move onto any advantages and disadvantages of the current situation and then followed by the advantages and disadvantages in regards to the changes.

I then do a break down any costs, both financial and people costs, followed a brief conclusion.

Any thoughts of the lay out?
 
Loosely something like this

Project Summary
Problem Statement
Solutions Studied
Chosen solution impact to company / Benefits etc
Cost Breakdown
Timescales / looking ahead
 
The best advice given so far has been by Sic.

You want no more than a two page document at this stage. Your management summary is the most important part - its like the first 30 seconds of a song. If they don't find anything interesting it will get canned there and then.

When doing your estimating keep it high level and be on the cautious side. Take the lowest realisitic benefits and then the highest realistic costs. This way anything that is an extra is a bonus.

If this is your first one check everything three times, there will always be something that you miss but the important thing is to identify the main areas and make sure you don't miss one of them.
 
create a Ltd company, approach your bosswith proposal then.

=a lot MORE MONEY.

Anything you produce while still working for the company is classed as their intulectual property and you will not be paid extra for it, create the company and produce the write up at home and not in work hrs.

KaHn
 
KaHn said:
Anything you produce while still working for the company is classed as their intulectual property and you will not be paid extra for it, create the company and produce the write up at home and not in work hrs.

KaHn
Click to expand...

Some contracts won't let you do that though, for example I'm not allowed to write software which 'could be sold' by the company I work for (without giving them the IP rights), I'm pretty sure that would be regardless of whether I set up my own company or not.
 
Thank you very much for the help guys :)

Hoping to have my proposal ready for Tuesday and I'll have to see where it does from there.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom