4-1

Chapter 4
Business
Research
Requests and
Proposals

McGrawHill/Irwin

2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., All Rights

Reserved.

4-2

Learning Objectives
Understand
the purpose of the request for proposal
and the research proposal; how each is
used
the variations on each and their contents
the processes for evaluating the quality of
proposals

4-3

Exhibit 4-1 The Research

Proposal Process

4-4

Exhibit 4-1 The Research Proposal

Process: Using a Research Supplier

4-5

Benefits of the RFP

Formalize
research procurement
process
Provide
Provide
control
control
function
function
Provide
Provide
monitoring
monitoring
device
device

RFPs
RFPs

Provide
Provide
evaluation
evaluation
opportunity
opportunity
Establish
performance
expectations

4-6

Unethical Uses of RFPs

Help sponsor plan project budget
Gather cost estimates and design ideas
for in-house projects
Create impression of competitive bid for
sole-source project

4-7

Activities in the
RFP Process
Qualify
Qualify potential
potential vendors
vendors
Write
Write and
and distribute
distribute RFP
RFP
Answer
Answer supplier
supplier questions
questions
Evaluate
Evaluate submissions
submissions
Award
Award contracts
contracts and
and start
start
Provide
Provide critique
critique to
to all
all suppliers
suppliers

4-8

RFP Components
Proposal
Proposal administration
administration
information
information
Summary
Summary statement
statement of
of problem
problem
Technical
Technical section
section
Management
Management section
section
Contracts
Contracts and
and license
license section
section
Pricing
Pricing section
section

4-9

Covering Kids RFP

4-10

Pricing Section

Services
Data collection
Data analysis
Client meetings
Travel
Respondent survey
incentives
Mail costs
Telephone costs
Design meetings

Facilities/ Equipment
Pilot tests
Report preparations
Computer models
Project management
Questionnaire/
reproduction costs
Labor
Deliverables

4-11

RFP Elements
Instructions to
bidders

Cost
Cost proposal
proposal

RFP
RFP
Elements
Elements

Services
Services and
and
support
support

Background
Background

Vendor
information
Proposed
solution

4-12

Exhibit 4-2 Qualifying

Research Suppliers
Research Supplier/ Staff
Experience and industry
status
Code of ethical
performance
Skill and experience
Project management
Research skills
Business knowledge

Compatibility/ Desirability
Supplier Facilities/
Procedures
Project management
system
Contractual arrangements
Complaint handling
procedures
Quality assurance
Facilities
Reporting procedures

Exhibit 4-1: The Research

Proposal Process:
Doing the Project Internally

4-13

4-14

The Research Proposal

Present
management question
Suggest data
collection
and analysis

Purpose

Propose
necessary data

Discuss
research
efforts

4-15

Exhibit 4-3
Proposal Development

4-16

Exhibit 4-4
Proposal Complexity

4-17

Structuring the
Research Proposal

Executive Summary
Problem Statement
Research Objectives
Literature Review
Importance/ Benefits
of Study
Research Design
Data Analysis
Nature/Form

Research
Qualifications
Budget
Schedule
Facilities
Project Management
Bibliography
Appendices

4-18

Exhibit 4-5
Modules

4-19

Researcher Qualifications

Professional
Research
Competence

Relevant
Management
Experience

4-20

Budgeting for Samples

Scientific
Telephone
Samples (STS)
provides
random dial,
listed, and
business
samples for
telephone and
online surveys

4-21

Exhibit 4-6 Sample

Proposed Budget

4-22

Exhibit 4-7 CPM Schedule

4-23

Elements of a Project
Management Plan
Management
Management
Financial/
Organization
Financial/
competence
competence Organization
Legal
of
Legal
of research
research
responsibility
team
responsibility
team
Team
Team
relationship
relationship
with
with client
client

Plan
Plan
Elements
Elements
Examples
Examples of
of
past
past work
work

Procedures
Procedures

4-24

The Research Proposal

for MindWriter

4-25

Exhibit 4-8 Research Proposal

for MindWriter Complete Care
Satisfaction Research

4-26

Evaluation of a
Research Proposal
Informal

Formal
Development of
review criteria
Assignment of points
Assignment of
weights
Generation of a
proposal score
Consideration of other
factors

4-27

Key Terms

Critical Path Method

Executive summary
Literature review
Project management

Proposal
Unsolicited
Solicited
Request for Proposal

4-28

Covering Kids RFP