#14248
Back to Fund-amentals: The Business Realities of Funding for Performance Support Projects 
Although electronic performance support systems (EPSSs) sound like exciting projects to technical communicators and instructional designers, many proposed EPSSs stay on the drawing boards because the organizations for whom they were designed choose not to fund them. In general, EPSSs require more up-front investment than traditional documentation and training. That additional expense, sometimes increasing up-front expenses by several times, could be enough to stop a project unless the designers can explain how the organization can benefit from this additional investment. In fact, most often, these organizations decline to fund the proposed EPSSs because the financial benefits of the EPSSs are not explained, and so the proposed EPSS is perceived to exceed the cost of designing and developing it. In other words, the businesses do not perceive that the EPSS is a good investment of their money.
Driscoll, Margaret and Colin Hynes. Technical Communication Online (2002). Articles>Content Management>Proposals
#13057
Build a Business Case for Online Learning Projects 
Upper-level decision makers seem to thrive on 'what if?' Here's how it works: Line workers, managers, and independent consultants enthusiastically propose a project, and executives shred it apart with 'what ifs?' and 'have you considereds?' In reality, such questions indicate that a project proposal is incomplete. The people who prepared it may have assumed an overly optimistic or pessimistic result, overlooked relevant alternatives, or may not have considered relevant component costs. And when it comes to technology projects--such as online learning development -- executives may kick 'what if' into high gear. Though the benefits of such projects seem self-evident to the converted, the possibility of a high price tag and organizational disruption sobers many executives considering the online plunge.
Carliner, Saul. ASTD (2000). Articles>Management>Proposals
#21260
Proposal Production: Creating Calm Amid the Chaos 
The production of a winning business proposal can be a tough and trying time for all involved. But with the use of some simple tools, strategic up-front planning, and effective management techniques during actual production, the proposal task can run smoother and more eflciently. And by following these guidelines you can lead a highly efficient proposal stafs through the toughest proposal efforts and produce a proposal document that wins new business and moves your company forward.
Wilson, Richard P. STC Proceedings (1997). Articles>Grants>Proposals>Project Management
#29681
Requirements: A Primer for Communicators
Poorly written requirements are the single biggest point of failure in the development of new software systems. Requirements that are not carefully defined or are written in ambiguous terms result in an endless stream of re- working and budget overruns. Smart project managers these days are trying to solve the problem with the addition of professional communicators to their project teams to both elicit crisp requirements and express them in simple, accessible terms.
Shelton, Jan D. and Karen A. Steele. STC Proceedings (2005). Articles>Project Management>Proposals
