TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
    AUTOMATING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF YXKZ CONSTRUCTION LTD.

CHAPTER I - BACKGROUND INFORMATION
    THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF A PROPOSAL WRITER PROGRAM ON YXKZ LTD.
       Proposals Written

CHAPTER II - PROBLEM AND OBJECTIVES
    THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF A PROPOSAL WRITER PROGRAM ON YXKZ LTD.
       Problem Statement
       The Management Problem
       Objectives

CHAPTER III - RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
    THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF A PROPOSAL WRITER PROGRAM ON YXKZ LTD.
       Research Design
       Proposed Data Collection Procedures
       Collection of Primary Data
       Collection of Secondary Data

CHAPTER IV - ESTIMATES OF COST AND SCHEDULE
   THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF A PROPOSAL WRITER PROGRAM ON YXKZ LTD.

CHAPTER V - APPENDIX
    SURVEY, INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
    SURVEY, PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT / SALES
The following article is Research Proposal for a MBA class called Business Research and Design, concerning the problem of reducing time expences and creating new “user-friendly” system for corporation’s needs of flexible and effective management of information, proposals and sales in the Ltd. The Research Proposal structure and main items are given below. [Walonick, 2006]
This Research Proposal is given like a kind of a theoretical model that can be implementated in practice of business and this article contains main aspects of the business control and performing business changes together with the investigation of the new informational and management product that will be “user-friendly” and basically aimed for the complex flexible work of the top-managers and sales management together with controlling and collecting data and forming clients / sales databases etc.
As a result, the theoretic company YXKZ Construction Ltd. will work effectively and there will be the reduce of time and sales expenditures for further growing of this kind of business.
All trademarks, names and figures of statistic are not from real life and have no connection to any real companies.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
AUTOMATING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF YXKZ CONSTRUCTION LTD.

Proposals are rather important tools in construction, sales and marketing efforts of any company that still face some important challenges.
These are the main specific problems our company YXKZ Construction Ltd. faces in its business activity: 
- Inefficient information’s delivery in time and where it is necessary.
- Lack of tools for construction sales managers to work effectively.
- Difficult delivering quality proposals in time.
- Construction sales managers are spending a lot of so-called “desk time” and not enough amount of the “face time” while preparing proactive new proposals.
- Proposals are not formed in a proper way; they contain doubts, mistakes and even incorrect information.
The main aim of the project given in this Research Proposal is to research a specific need of the members of the Proposal Development Department and Sales Group, that is necessary for constructing and manufactirung specific Proposal Software Comples Program.
As it is said in the proposal, this is to be totally accomplished through significant discussion between the research experts of the Information Management Department and the Proposal Development Department together with Sales Group.
This type of cooperative agreement must become the fundamental for the success of all further projects.
That is why this Research Proposal is developed. The main aim is to achieve the effective level of sales and information management inside the company and to work out the modern Intranet- and Internet-based software product to help the financial and sales management of the company to manage effectively and perform the proper level of the business growth for further periods.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF A PROPOSAL WRITER PROGRAM ON YXKZ LTD.

YXKZ Ltd. has generated 4,000 proposals (of which 40 % are less complex; 60 % more complex) during FY 2006.
Managers of the YXKZ’s Proposal Department have spent approximately 48,000 hours for writing proposals. However, this does not include revisions made due to addendums.
Below there is a summary of cost incurred by the YXKZ Ltd. through FY 2006.
It must be noted that YXKZ Ltd. generated HDD and CD copies of every proposal written both for the clients and the company’s Sales Executives, in order to keep them informed about all the changes. This was done to be sure that the Sales Executives could respond to all the questions concisely and efficiently.

Proposals Written

In this part the main calculations towards proposals written and proposals addendums are represented. The main points for calculation are time for writing 1 (one) proposal; approximate time lenghth for writing; overhead charge rate for a writer’s time; number of proposals written each year; level of approximate total costs.
Time for writing 1 (one) proposal: 10 hours—less complex; 40 hours—complex.
Approximately 3 (three) hour – less complex; 18 hours – complex.
Overhead charge rate for a writer's time: $ 68.00/hr; $ 68.00/hr.
Number of proposals / addendums written each year: 500 - less complex; 700 – complex
Approximate total costs: $ 102.000 + 856.800

PROBLEM AND OBJECTIVES
THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF A PROPOSAL WRITER PROGRAM ON YXKZ LTD.

Problem Statement

The proposal invention processes in the construction industry is rather intensive. Many tasks are highly complex, and may require full time equivalent man-hours to be done. Many kinds of job require large amount of revisions when posed with addendums by the owners who are uncertain of their wishes and plans. 

The Management Problem 

The solving of the problem in this Research Proposal can not be done without the Management Problem. The Management Problem is as stated below: Can we develop a software distributive package that will meet the guidelines of the Proposal Development Department and the Sales Group? The successful creation of such a system can not be done without ensuring main potential objectives as towards the business software which the company plans to create.

Objectives

1. To ensure the perspective system will function properly with the main structures of data that are used within the main system.
2. To develop software which will formulate properly fast responses to R.F.P.s.
3. To create a well-designed system which is “friendly” to learn to.
4. To determine if a so-called “pricing engine” is necessary within the data structure.
5. To asses the need for a sales and marketing database.
6. To evaluate the need to develop a clientele database.
7. To investigate the potential of reduction of overall paper usage.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF A PROPOSAL WRITER PROGRAM ON YXKZ LTD.

Research Design

The Information Gathered will be representative of the Information Management Department, the Proposal Development Department, and the Sales Executives. The Information management Department will be surveyed independently from the Proposal Development Department and the Sales Executives, however, there will be a set of questions on each of the two surveys that are identical. This will be detailed in the Proposed Data Collection section. All information Gathered will be utilized in the evaluation of the potential for the development and or feasibility of development concerning the afore mentioned proposal software.

Proposed Data Collection Procedures

To ensure the potential system will function with the data structures used within our system, and to create a well-designed system, which is easy to learn, Information management will be surveyed independently of the Proposal Development Department and the Sales Executives. To determine if a pricing engine is needed within the data structure, asses the need for a sales and marketing database, and evaluate the need to develop a clientele database, The Proposal Development Department and the Sales Executives will be surveyed together yet independently of the Information Management Department.
In order to develop a software program, which will formulate faster responses to R.F.P.s., and investigate the potential to reduce overall paper usage, the three Departments will be surveyed together utilizing the same set of questions on both forms.

Collection of Primary Data

Primary data will be collected in the form of a questionnaire. These questionnaires will be formulated in such a manner as to receive an independent response from the individuals surveyed. There will be two questionnaires formatted. One for Information management Department and one for the Proposal Development Department and Sales Executives combined.

Collection of Secondary Data

An investigation will be conducted as to the existance of any proposal writing software and the development process used to implement said program. Proposed Analytical Techniques Upon completion of the necessary survey process and the collection of the data, an independent team as so agreed upon by the Research staff and the Management staff of the YXKZ LTD. will analyze all information. All Information shall be formatted in an easily interpretive, summarized document.

ESTIMATES OF COST & SCHEDULE
THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF A PROPOSAL WRITER PROGRAM ON YXKZ LTD.

Below is a detailed summary of cost associated with the proposed research project. Also acLtd.ing the detailed cost summary is a projected cost chart for quick reference.
Survey development and implementation will take three (3) F.T.E.s  $45.00 hr. for 11.3 hours each. 
For a total of 33.9 man hours = $1525.50
Materials associated with creating the surveys will be a fixed price of $500.00. This is an industry standard dollar amount.
Administrative support includes data collection, recording and tabulation. 
This will take one (1) F.T.E  $34.50 hr. for 31 hours. For a total of =1069.50.
The total cost incurred will be $3,095.00.
Six weeks from the Validation Meeting, YXKZ Ltd.’s D.E.C. team will be given a Final Report for review. 
All information gathered including Primary and Secondary data will be attached to the Final Report. Project status will be given on weekly bases and or as deemed necessary by YXKZ Ltd.’s D.E.C. Team. 

Best regards; 
Construction Contracts Manager

SURVEY, INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

Primary data will be collected in the form of a questionnaire, formulated in such a manner as to receive an independent response from the individuals surveyed. This one for Information management Department.

Is the expenditures on the current system high? YES_____ NO_____
Is the current system Windows/MacOS/other based? Windows_____ MacOS______ other______ 
Is the current system in an Intranet / Internet format? Intranet____ Internet______ none______ 
Do you have a high level of software programming? YES_____ NO______
Are you interested in software programming? YES______ NO______
Do you use the databases already provided by the YXKZ Ltd.? YES_____ NO______
If yes, how often? Several times a Week___ a Day___ an Hour___ Not at all___
If no, Why?_______________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________

SURVEY, PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT / SALES

Primary data will be collected in the form of a questionnaire, formulated in such a manner as to receive an independent response from the individuals surveyed. This one for Sales Group and Development Department.

Are you satisfied with your current software? YES_____ NO_____
Are you comfortable learning new programs? YES_____ NO______
Would a proposal / sales database be useful for your job? YES____ NO______
Any time in the past 2 months, have you a lack of information on a client? YES_____ NO______
Was this a reason for loss of face time with the clients? YES____ NO______
If a proposal database could be updated on the intranet / internet would you use it?
YES_______ NO______
Do you use the databases already provided by the YXKZ Ltd.? YES_____ NO______
If yes, how often? Several times a Week___ a Day___ an Hour___ Not at all___
If no, Why?_______________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 

REFERENCES
Walonick, D. S., Ph.D. (2006) “Elements of a research proposal and report” <http://www.statpac.com/research-papers/research-proposal.htm>