Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kevin Gray on March 30, 2010 at 6:05pm

Hi Vincent,

Now that I'm an independent consultant it is normally the people who are writing the proposal who come to me for help with the proposal and, potentially, for analytic support. When I was on the marketing research agency side we would very occasionally subcontract proposals, e.g. to a business consultant with highly specialized expertise. The consultant would be retained for this purpose (including client interaction) and then kept on retainer for that project if the project was commissioned; fees were typically project based as far as I can recall.

Cheers,
Kevin

Permalink Reply by Gabriel Angeloro on March 30, 2010 at 6:58pm

Hello Vincent

I work as a Project manger and I write Proposal and Business Requirements Documents. Maybe I can help you.

Regards
Gabriel

Permalink Reply by John Crout on March 30, 2010 at 8:57pm

Assuming the goal is always the same -- getting funded, let's put the analytic protocol aside for a moment. Each organization has its own culture and a committee within it that approves proposals. The importance of addressing this is related to the competition for funds. All other things being equal, familiarity helps. So, I'd look for experience writing grants directed towards the specific audience. (Not simply in the industry, but in the organization).

Next is experience managing a similar amount of funds. Prior experience as PI, or as say, someone with operations experience. Here, a very strong protocol may persuade a committee to accept a little more risk inherent with someone who didn't have the budget experience.

In a sense, its like hiring a resume service. That is, there are tons of people selling the service but I wouldn't trust most of them to do more than what they might for someone else in my industry. If the position I'm after can benefit from certain, niche experience, the template may not be adequate.

Analytics, themselves, are fairly objective/ They have limited ability to persuade, given minimum competancies are met. The sales aspects are not likely to be met best without considering the people you are appealing to. (Unless all proposals recieved share the same insight into their audience).

(No disrespect intended towards resume writers).