Using the information discussed in the hardware and software chapters, write a proposal for the purchase of a PC: desktop or laptop. The audience for this proposal is the person who has to approve the purchase or give you the money. The proposal must include the sections given below. Each section is worth 20 points.
Use Times New Roman font, 12-point size, doubled spaced.
Include a few sentences at the beginning telling me who your is audience for this proposal. The proposal must be organized into the following sections.
Executive Summary
Start with a one-paragraph summary of why you need the PC, your solution, and the cost. This is a brief summary–no details. Use maybe 5 to 10 sentences. Remember your audience.
Problem Statement
A detailed statement as to the current situation and the problems it causes. Why do you need this PC? What problems are being encountered? What problems will the PC solve? You can use a real situation or an imagined one (need it for my job as a design engineer). This will determine the characteristics of the machine.
Define the problem in this section–not the solution.
Define your needs in business terms.
Remember your audience!
Recommendation and Solution
Detail what PC you are proposing to buy and why. What will the hardware and software be used for? Make sure your choices address the problems described above and are appropriate to your problem statement. How will this recommendation solve the problem? Do not include items that aren’t justified in your problem definition. Include appropriate technical details that you understand.
How does this recommendation solve the problem(s)? Don’t just restate the problem–how does your solution solve the problem?
What hardware have you chosen and why? Provide details as to speed and/or amount. For example, 128 megs of RAM or a 24x CD drive. Attach any specification sheets you obtain. Highlight any choices you made above that of a “normal” PC. For example, maybe you need a plotter.
What software you have chosen and why? Include both system and application software. Attach any specification sheets you obtain.
Make sure you have included all necessary software and hardware items to solve the problem you have identified.
Organize this material in a meaningful way.
Remember: This is a sales proposal.
Cost
How much is the PC going to cost? Don’t forget taxes, shipping, installation, ongoing maintenance, and so on. Include a 15 percent contingency amount for unexpected expenses. You should be able to get these through a store like Milwaukee PC or Best Buy, or a Web site like Dell or Gateway.
In this section, only major categories and a summary of their costs should be included. Include a bullet point for each category. Summarize costs for:
Computer hardware
Software
Other miscellaneous charges like tax, shipping, maintenance, installation
Contingency
Provide a total. These costs must be tied to a detailed spreadsheet included as an attachment.
Does the project generate any savings? If so, try to quantify the savings and include them in the summary.
Alternatives Considered
Are there any other ways to solve the problem? What alternatives did you investigate? Why are these solutions inferior to your solution? What happens if you don’t buy this equipment? What trade-offs did you have to make, if any, to keep the cost within your budget? (You can make up a budget.)
Attachments
Include meaningful documents that clarify the discussion.
Attach any meaningful specification sheets you obtain.
Attach an Excel spreadsheet detailing costs. If you obtain multiple quotes, the spreadsheet should compare the quotes.
Your paper will be graded based on:
Use of clear, concise, business-like English
Completeness
Understandability
Match of configuration to problem identified
Reasonableness
Creativity
Appropriateness to audience
