Proposals

Organizations must constantly make decisions based on whether to modify or adopt a product, procedure, or policy—such as upgrading a computer system or implementing a new employee-grievance procedure. Called a proposal, this type of presentation may be strictly informative, as when a facilities manager provides information to his or her managers. Often, proposals are persuasive in nature, with the presenter arguing in favor of one course of action over another.

Audience

The audience for a proposal can vary from a single individual to a large group; this individual or individuals have primary or sole decision-making responsibility. Because many proposals seek to persuade listeners, careful adaptation to the audience is critical to an effective presentation.

Organization

A proposal can be quite lengthy and formally organized or relatively brief and loosely structured. Organize lengthy proposals as follows:

  1. Introduce the issue.
  2. State the problem.
  3. Describe the method by which the problem was investigated.
  4. Describe the facts learned.
  5. Offer explanations and an interpretation of the findings.
  6. Offer recommendations.

Organize brief proposals as follows:

  1. State your recommendations.
  2. Offer a brief overview of the problem.
  3. Review the facts on which the recommendations are based.