Business plan/Proposal Writing report and CV/Resume writing Business Plan Business proposals are documents designed to make a persuasive appeal to the audience to achieve a defined outcome, often proposing a solution to a problem.
Effective business proposals are built around a great idea or solution. While you may be able to present your normal product, service, or solution in an interesting way, you want your document and its solution to stand out against the background of competing proposals
https://www.ted.com/talks/ashley_m_grice_the_pow er_of_purpose_in_business?subtitle=en Business Plan
https://www.ted.com/talks/justin_shaw_how_to_plan _a_proposal?subtitle=en Business Proposal Format Ethos, Pathos, and Logos Ethos refers to credibility, pathos to passion and enthusiasm, and logos to logic or reason. All three elements are integral parts of your business proposal that require your attention. (Question of Credibility)Who are you and why should we do business with you? Passion and enthusiasm are not only communicated through “!” exclamation points. Your thorough understanding, and your demonstration of that understanding, communicates dedication and interest. Each assertion requires substantiation, each point clear support. It is not enough to make baseless claims about your product or service— you have to show why the claims you make are true, relevant, and support your central assertion that your product or service is right for this client. Two Types of Business Proposals 1.Solicited If you have been asked to submit a proposal it is considered solicited. The solicitation may come in the form of a direct verbal or written request, but normally solicitations are indirect, open-bid to the public, and formally published for everyone to see. A request for proposal (RFP), request for quotation (RFQ), and invitation for bid (IFB) are common ways to solicit business proposals for business, industry, and the government. RFPs typically specify the product or service, guidelines for submission, and evaluation criteria. RFQs emphasize cost, though service and maintenance may be part of the solicitation. IRBs are often job-specific in that they encompass a project that requires a timeline, labor, and materials. Two Types of Business Proposals 2. Unsolicited Unsolicited proposals are the “cold calls” of business writing. They require a thorough understanding of the market, product and/or service, and their presentation is typically general rather than customer-specific. Unsolicited proposals are often regarded as marketing materials, intended more to stimulate interest for a follow-up contact than make direct sales Report Reports are documents designed to record and convey information to the reader. Reports are part of any business or organization; from credit reports to police reports, they serve to document specific information for specific audiences, goals, or functions Sometimes they simply “report the facts” with no analysis at all, but still need to communicate the information in a clear and concise format. Other reports summarize past events, present current data, and forecast future trends. While a report may have conclusions, propositions, or even a call to action, the demonstration of the analysis is the primary function. A sales report, for example, is not designed to make an individual sale. It is, however, supposed to report sales to date, and may forecast future sales based on previous trends. This chapter is designed to introduce you to the basics of report writing. Reports come in all sizes, but are typically longer than a page and somewhat shorter than a book. The type of report depends on its function Reports vary by function, and they also vary by style and tradition. Within your organization, there may be employer-specific expectations that need to be addressed to meet audience expectations. Types of Reports Informational or Analytical Report? An informational report informs or instructs and presents details of events, activities, individuals, or conditions without analysis. An example of this type of “just the facts” report is a police accident report. The report will note the time, date, place, contributing factors like weather, and identification information for the drivers involved in an automobile accident. It does not establish fault or include judgmental statements. An analytical report presents information with a comprehensive analysis to solve problems, demonstrate relationships, or make recommendations. An example of this report may be a field report by a Center for Disease Control (CDC) physician from the site of an outbreak of the H1N1 virus, noting symptoms, disease progression, steps taken to arrest the spread of the disease, and to make recommendations on the treatment and quarantine of subjects Types of Reports and Their Functions How Are Reports Organized? Reports are typically organized around six key elements: 1. Whom the report is about and/or prepared for 2. What was done, what problems were addressed, and the results, including conclusions and/or recommendations 3. Where the subject studied occurred 4. When the subject studied occurred 5. Why the report was written (function), including under what authority, for what reason, or by whose request 6. How the subject operated, functioned, or was used A typical Format of Report 1. Title Page 2. Executive Summary •A concise summary of the entire report, including the main Report Title purpose, key findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Author(s) •Should be brief but comprehensive, allowing the reader to understand the essence of the report without reading the Date of whole document. Submission Organization or 3. Table of Contents Department •Lists the sections of the report with (if applicable) corresponding page numbers. •Includes a list of tables and figures (if applicable). A typical Format of Report 5. Main Body 4. Introduction •Section Headings: Divide the content Background: The context into sections that are clearly labeled. or background of the Each section should address a key report. point or theme. Purpose: The aim of the •Subsections: Use subsections to report and what it seeks to organize detailed information achieve. effectively. Scope: An outline of what •Analysis/Findings: Present the results the report will cover and what it will not. of your research, analysis, or investigation. Use tables, charts, and Methodology: A brief overview of how the diagrams if needed. information was gathered •Discussion: Interpret the findings, (e.g., surveys, data discuss their implications, and explore analysis). how they relate to the main purpose of the report. A typical Format of Report 6. Conclusions 8. References/Bibliography •Summarize the main findings and •A list of all sources used to the outcomes of your analysis. gather information, formatted •Should not introduce new according to a specific citation information. style. 7. Recommendations 9. Appendices (if necessary) •Provide actionable suggestions •Include supplementary based on the findings and information, such as raw data, conclusions. detailed calculations, or •Outline how these additional background material recommendations can be that supports the report but is not implemented. essential to the main content. Tips for Writing an Effective Executive Summary •Be Concise: An executive summary should be no longer than 10% of the total length of the full document, usually 1–2 pages. •Use Clear and Simple Language: Avoid jargon and complex language. Make sure the summary is easy to understand for readers with varying levels of expertise. •Focus on Key Points: Only include essential information. Leave out details and background information that are not critical to understanding the main points. •Use Bullet Points and Headings: Organize the summary for easy navigation, especially if it covers multiple findings or recommendations. •Tailor to the Audience: Consider the needs and interests of the target audience, and emphasize the aspects most relevant to them. •Ensure It Stands Alone: The executive summary should make sense independently. A reader should not need to refer to the full document to understand the summary’s content. Resume/Curriculum Vitae(CV) A résumé is a document that summarizes your education, skills, talents, employment history, and experiences in a clear and concise format for potential employers. The résumé serves three distinct purposes that define its format, design, and presentation: 1. To represent your professional information in writing 2. To demonstrate the relationship between your professional information and the problem or challenge the potential employer hopes to solve or address, often represented in the form of a job description or duties 3. To get you an interview by clearly demonstrating you meet the minimum qualifications and have the professional background help the organization meet its goals Types of Resume Structure of a CV/Recume 1. Header/Personal Information 2. Personal Statement/Professional Summary A brief section (2-4 sentences) summarizing your background, skills, and career goals. Tailor this to each position you apply for, highlighting your key strengths and what you bring to the role. 3. Education 4. Professional Experience (Job Title, Organization, Location, Dates of Employment) 5. Skills Structure of a CV /Resume 6. Certifications and Training (if applicable) 7. Research Experience (for academic or research-focused CVs) Project Title, Institution, Dates 8. Publications and Presentations (if applicable) 9. Professional Affiliations (if applicable) 10. Awards and Honors 11. Volunteer Experience (if relevant) mentioning the Role, Organization, Date 12. Languages (if applicable) with fluency level 13. References Sample Format for Functional Résumé Sample Format for Scannable Résumé
