Proposal for Project Research: A 5-Step Guide

Tasks:

The Task:
Prepare a 800-1000-word proposal for a project based on research that will end in a recommendation report, which is the next set of assignments in the course (Assignments 5 and 6).

Proposals can be fun to write, as long as you have a topic that truly engages your interest and you can locate materials for research. The psychology is like this: you skate out over thin ice, but you are confident because you have done enough research already to know you can do the job. Later, you will have a chance to expand your research and ideas for the recommendation report. 

Getting Started:
Your first step will be to locate a topic that will serve for both the proposal and the recommendation report. The topic should be researchable, problem based, and directed toward workable solutions to issues and concerns in the workplace.  You will need a main idea (like a thesis statement for an essay).

Suggested topics might include: 
a) harassment, sexual discrimination, and racism at work (descriptions of situations, definitions of terms and problems, and ways to deal with and prevent occurrences); 

b) shrinkage in retail outlets (definitions, examples, systems to track it, ways to prevent it)

c) motivating employees in challenging workplaces (ways to handle potential downsizing, closures, firings, unfair promotions, negative attitudes, and depression/discouragement in workers)

d) weight watchers or recovery groups at work: a good idea? 

e) community violence as it impacts workplace (for example, employees being attacked en route to places of employment)

f) bad weather conditions and jobs that require driving or flying ( how to deal with situations of lost revenue or vehicle/aircraft mechanical failure)

g) secrets of the best customer service (is this a lost cause? Have businesses forgotten the need for courtesy?)

As with any research tasks, you will need to start with a few basic research questions relating to the topic and then search for information that will help you to answer these questions.

Describing situations and then analyzing problems will be your focus in this task.  Make best use of both academic and practical research skills. Your own experience is also relevant.

Understanding the Need for Research in the Proposal:
1. This proposal is not a RFP (Request for Proposal); instead, you are choosing a topic and trying to persuade your reader that you have the qualifications and abilities to do a research task. 

2. Imagine that you are doing “on site” or primary research: looking around in your workplace, talking to friends and associates, asking your boss questions (interviewing), googling, using databases in the university library, conducting surveys, and watching current events as reported in newspapers, television, Facebook, and Twitter, and other social media. Imagined scenarios are fine for this assignment also.

Getting Started:

3. Unless you have some facts at hand, you will not be able to persuade a reader to let you do the work. Be sure to do some secondary research as well – at least five sources are needed. 

4. Unless you show enthusiasm and a realistic plan for completing tasks in a timely fashion, the proposal will not gain attention.

Format:  
You do not need a letter of transmittal, or a table of contents, or a separate outline, or an abstract/summary at the beginning of your proposal. 
You need the following parts, on which you will be assessed and graded: 
1. Title page (APA)
2. Introduction, with background or description of situation 
3. A problem question or statement; briefly review what you imagine to be a potential reader’s situation, establish a need for action, and explain how things could be better.
4. Solutions outlined for the problem under discussion; highlight the best solution.
5. Show the benefits of the key solution for your potential audience or reader.
6. A section about research: 
a) Scope of what will be the boundaries of your research, what you will and will not do.
b) Survey of initial research, including the facts and evidence for both the current situation and changes you have in mind. 
c) Approach to the research explained, in the best way you can, with the information you have at hand.

7. Work and time line: explain the steps you’ll take, the time frame (when the work will being and how it will be broken into stages, and when it will be completed).

8. Costs, as appropriate.

9. Summary of your own or your organization’s experience and facilities to do this work, and a conclusion that summarizes the key points, reviews the benefits of the project for readers, ending with a call to action.

10. List of references (at least five sources) of research to date and research planned.

Grading Rubric for Proposal Assignment
Each of the following items will be assessed when grading your proposal: 

1. Introduction:
Identification of readership/audience and needs
Purpose of proposal
Description of situation

2. Problem statement or question
How do you know the problem is real? 
What is causing the problem(s)?

3. Your solution(s):
Approach to research and finding solutions 
Discussion of possible solutions to problem
Statement of what you think at this point will be the best solution to the problem

4. Discussion of Benefits (and Risks, if this applies) 

5. Explanation of your research approach: 
Summary of your own research to date  
Why you are the right person to do the research and the work
Scope of research: what you will not do; what you will do
Potential limits of research 

6. Your work plan:
Stages of research with time lines for completing each stage

7. Costs:
To you and potential clients
Consideration of Possible Savings

8. Format:
APA style title page
Use of headings (parallelism, either lists or paragraphs or both)
In-text citations for quotations—APA style
Short list of at least 5 references (to be added to the final report as well) in APA

9. Conclusion that briefly restates how readers/clients will benefit from this work/research

10. Overall writing style (grammar and mechanics)