Proposals
Charles A. DiMarzio
GEU110
Northeastern University
Oct 2003
Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University
10379-6a-1
Sources of Funding
• Government
• Other Companies
– Types
• Grants
– University
– SBIR/STTR
• Contracts
– Sources
• Military
• Other Agencies
– NIH, NSF, DOE,
EPA, NOAA, NIST
• Local Government
Oct 2003
– Users
– Manufacturers
– Venture Capital
CompaniesInternal
Funds
– Company IR&D
– University Programs
• Private Foundations
• Rich Relatives
Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University
10379-6a-2
Proposal Format
• Technical Proposal (NIH Format)
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1. SPECIFIC AIMS
2. BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE
3. PRELIMINARY RESULTS
4. APPROACH
• Management (For this course)
– 5. SCHEDULE
– 6. COST
Oct 2003
Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University
10379-6a-3
Technical Proposal
• 1. Describe the SPECIFIC AIMS of your project. You should be able
to reduce these to perhaps three or four very concise statements, with a
short paragraph elaborating on each.
• 2. Include a section on BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE.
What is the situation prior to your proposed work? Cite the literature or
patents as appropriate. How would your proposal change this
situation?
• 3. Discuss any PRELIMINARY RESULTS, which may be the result of
experience you had before you started working on this proposal, or
from research you did to pick the topic.
• 4. Describe the APPROACH you will use for design and development
of whatever you propose. This should connect closely to the specific
aims above.
Oct 2003
Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University
10379-6a-4
Management Proposal
• 5. Provide a schedule of tasks and the assigned
responsibilities.
• 6. Provide a rough cost analysis of the design and
of the resulting product.
• Other Parts (Not Required Here)
– Personnel
– Facilities
– Safety, Animal, Human Subjects, Employment, etc.
Oct 2003
Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University
10379-6a-5
A Word About Reports Again
• I give points for
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Oct 2003
Cover Letter (If appropriate)
Abstract
Table of Contents and Figures
Technical Content (Most heavily)
References (If appropriate)
Grammar and Spelling
General Appearance
Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University
10379-6a-6
Some Grammar Issues
• A preposition is a terrible part of speech to
end a sentence with.
• And starting with a conjunction isn’t much
better.
• Another thing. Little short phrases. Not
quite sentences. Not good. Unless you are
Jonathan Franzen.
Oct 2003
Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University
10379-6a-7
Some Style Issues
• Use section headings.
• Informal expressions in technical writing are
usually uncool.
• Use parallel constructions in lists.
– Never have one item in a sublist
• Active voice and first person are acceptable to me,
but not to everyone in engineering.
– “Mistakes were made.”
– You shouldn’t use the second person.
• Give figures and tables numbers, and refer to them
in the text.
Oct 2003
Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University
10379-6a-8
Websites as Sources
• Use the web to...
– Learn about a new field
– Find out who is working in the field
– Get pointers to the archival literature
• Do not use web pages as citations
– They are transient
– They are not refereed
– Catalog information for pricing, etc. is an exception if
you include date information, etc.
Oct 2003
Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University
10379-6a-9
Some Ethical Issues
• If you borrow a figure, cite the source.
• Reference anyone who contributes to your
idea.
• Paraphrasing is not the same thing as
expressing your own thoughts.
Oct 2003
Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University
10379-6a-10
Review
Charles A. DiMarzio
GEU110
Northeastern University
Oct 2003
Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University
10379-6a-11
The Circle Diagram
• What goes on at each
stage?
• Think about your
minor project (pingpong launcher)
Oct 2003
Needs
Assessment
Implementation
11
Analysis
8,9,10
Abstraction
and Synthesis
6,7
Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University
Ch. 2
Problem
Formulation
3, 4, 5
10379-6a-12
Needs Assessment
• Different Types of Needs
– Revolutionary vs. Evolutionary, Best vs. Good
Enough, Best vs. Best We Can Afford
– Examples: Phone Numbers, FM Stereo, IVHS,
Mohs Surgery, etc.
• Market Pull vs. Technology Push
• Political Issues
Oct 2003
Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University
10379-6a-13
Problem Formulation
• Constraints and Boundaries
• Qualitative Goals (faster, better, cheaper)
• Advantages/Disadvantages of Revision
Method
• Dunker Diagrams
• Kepner Tregoe Analysis
Oct 2003
Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University
10379-6a-14
Other Topics
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Wright Brothers Movie
Microscope Design Example
Cost Proposals
Design in Industry vs. University
– Barcode Scanners, Colortron, Microscope
– COGS
– Profit
Oct 2003
Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University
10379-6a-15
A Thought for Next Week
• In preparation for a class exercise, see what
you can learn about helicopters.
Oct 2003
Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University
10379-6a-16