Question 1

Proposals that respond to RFPs are always noncompetitive.

Accepted Answer

Proposals that respond to RFPs can be competitive or noncompetitive. Organizations can choose to respond to RFPs in a noncompetitive manner by providing the exact specifications requested without offering any unique differentiators. However, they can also respond in a competitive manner by showcasing their unique strengths and capabilities to stand out from other proposals.

Question 2

A proposal must provide details about how it will be implemented and explain costs.

Accepted Answer

Yes, a proposal should include the implementation plan and estimated costs for the project or idea being proposed. This helps stakeholders understand the feasibility and potential impact of the proposal.

Question 3

Which of the following is most likely to be included in the executive summary?
A) The title of the proposal
B) The problem necessitating the proposal
C) The name of the recipient of the proposal
D) The name of the writer of the proposal
E) The date the proposal was submitted

Accepted Answer

The executive summary typically includes a brief overview of the problem that the proposal addresses, as it sets the context for the proposal's purpose and importance.

Question 4

Which of the following terms is most likely to refer to a situation in which an application is not saved on your computer but is hosted by the software company and is available on the Internet,often for a monthly fee?
A) Parallel computing
B) Cloud computing
C) Mainframe computing
D) Software as a service
E) Grid computing

Accepted Answer

This describes the concept of Software as a Service (SaaS), in which an application is hosted by the software company and accessed by users over the internet for a monthly fee. The other choices refer to different forms of computing, such as parallel computing (dividing a program into smaller parts to run simultaneously), cloud computing (accessing resources and applications over the internet), mainframe computing (using large, centralized computers for data processing), and grid computing (utilizing a network of computers to solve large-scale computational problems).

Question 5

________ allow you to include additional information that may interest the reader but is too detailed to include in the body of the proposal.
A) Glossaries
B) Executive summaries
C) Cover messages
D) Appendices
E) Tables of Contents

Accepted Answer

Appendices are attachments to a proposal that provide detailed information that may interest the reader but is too detailed to include in the body of the proposal. Glossaries are lists of definitions or explanations of technical terms used in the proposal, executive summaries provide a brief overview of the proposal, cover messages are introductory letters or emails, and tables of contents provide a organized list of sections and subsections of the proposal.

Question 6

A(n)________ allows readers to find the material that interests them.It should be a complete and accurate listing of the headings covered in the proposal.
A) appendix
B) executive summary
C) glossary
D) table of contents
E) cover letter

Accepted Answer

A table of contents is a listing of headings and subheadings in a document, allowing readers to easily navigate to the specific sections they are interested in. The other options (appendix, executive summary, glossary, and cover letter) are important components of a proposal, but do not serve the same function as a table of contents.

Question 7

Which of the following is most likely to be included on the title page of a report or proposal?
A) The suggested solutions
B) Name of the recipient of the proposal
C) Important implementation details
D) A project management plan and timetable
E) Total project budget

Accepted Answer

The title page generally includes the title of the report or proposal, the name of the organization or author, and the name of the recipient or intended audience. Option B is the most likely choice as it pertains to the intended audience.

Question 8

Unlike other persuasive communication,a proposal does not require in-depth analysis.

Accepted Answer

A proposal does require in-depth analysis as it is a document that outlines a suggested plan or project and must provide detailed information on how it will be implemented and what results can be expected.

Question 9

An appendix in a proposal consists of supplemental information and often includes examples of past projects,client testimonials,and technical specifications.

Accepted Answer

The statement is true; an appendix in a proposal typically includes additional information such as examples of past projects, client testimonials, and technical specifications.

Question 10

Which of the following is typically found first in a formal proposal?
A) Title page
B) Executive summary
C) Table of contents
D) Appendices
E) Cover message

Accepted Answer

A formal proposal looks much like a formal report.In addition to the body of the proposal itself,formal proposals include these elements: a title page,executive summary,table of contents,references or works cited,and appendices,if applicable.

Question 11

Unsolicited proposals are often organized using a direct format.

Accepted Answer

Unsolicited proposals are typically organized using an indirect format because the audience may not be expecting the proposal and needs more context and persuasion.

Question 12

In a formal RFP,what is the table of contents used for?
A) To show an understanding for the client's needs
B) To propose a solution that meets the needs listed in the RFP
C) To propose a competitive fee
D) To make information easy to find
E) To provide a quick overview of the key ideas

Accepted Answer

The table of contents in a formal RFP is used to make information easy to find for the client, who will likely be reviewing multiple proposals. It provides a clear outline of the proposal's main sections and allows the client to quickly navigate to specific areas of interest. A, B, C, and E may be addressed elsewhere in the proposal, but are not the primary purpose of the table of contents.

Question 13

A proposal must only provide information; it need not motivate your audience to act.

Accepted Answer

A proposal is meant to persuade the audience to take action, whether it is to approve a project or allocate funds. Simply providing information is not enough to achieve the desired outcome.

Question 14

An unsolicited proposal typically uses a direct format.

Accepted Answer

Unsolicited proposals usually take the form of a letter,memo,or email.The organization of these proposals is often indirect because you first need to prepare your audience for your idea.

Question 15

Many proposals,especially those that are unsolicited,are unsuccessful because the audience decides to do nothing at all.

Accepted Answer

Many unsolicited proposals do not receive any response or action from the audience, resulting in unsuccessful outcomes.

Question 16

A(n)________ briefly summarizes the most important information in the proposal and key decision makers might read only this document and,based on how persuasive it is,decide whether or not to read the entire document.
A) appendix
B) title page
C) executive summary
D) table of contents
E) glossary

Accepted Answer

An executive summary is a brief overview of the main points in a proposal or report. It is designed to quickly convey the most important information to key decision makers who may not have time to read the entire document. They will often base their decision on the information presented in the executive summary. The appendix contains supplementary information, while the title page provides basic information about the document such as its title and author. The table of contents and glossary both provide additional navigation aids but do not summarize the key points of the proposal.

Question 17

If a proposal is ________,you need to provide some extra structure so that readers can navigate the document and easily find the information they are looking for.
A) between two to four paragraphs long
B) less than a page
C) two pages or less
D) longer than three or four pages
E) just one paragraph long

Accepted Answer

If a proposal is longer than three or four pages, it is important to provide clear structure and organization so that readers can easily find the information they are looking for. This can include headings, subheadings, bullet points, and a table of contents. However, if the proposal is shorter than this, it may not require as much extra structure.

Question 18

In addition to serving as a persuasive tool,a sales proposal often serves as a sales contract.

Accepted Answer

A sales proposal can include terms and conditions that, when accepted by the buyer, serve as a contract between the seller and the buyer. This means that the proposal not only persuades the buyer to purchase the seller's product or service but also outlines the agreed-upon terms of the sale.

Question 19

Which of the following can help a writer best track the interests of the audience,allowing a more targeted proposal?
A) Face-to-face meetings
B) Repurposed content
C) Data analytics
D) Software as a Service (SaaS)
E) Executive summaries

Accepted Answer

Data analytics can help a writer analyze the behavior and interests of their audience by tracking website traffic, social media engagement, and search engine keywords. This information can be used to create a more targeted proposal.

Question 20

Most proposals are delivered in writing after an oral presentation.

Accepted Answer

Most proposals are typically delivered in writing before an oral presentation to allow the audience to review the details beforehand.

Quiz 9: Preparing Persuasive Business Proposals

Proposals that respond to RFPs are always noncompetitive.

A proposal must provide details about how it will be implemented and explain costs.

Which of the following is most likely to be included in the executive summary?

Which of the following terms is most likely to refer to a situation in which an application is not saved on your computer but is hosted by the software company and is available on the Internet,often for a monthly fee?

________ allow you to include additional information that may interest the reader but is too detailed to include in the body of the proposal.

A(n) ________ allows readers to find the material that interests them.It should be a complete and accurate listing of the headings covered in the proposal.

Which of the following is most likely to be included on the title page of a report or proposal?

Unlike other persuasive communication,a proposal does not require in-depth analysis.

An appendix in a proposal consists of supplemental information and often includes examples of past projects,client testimonials,and technical specifications.

Which of the following is typically found first in a formal proposal?

Unsolicited proposals are often organized using a direct format.

In a formal RFP,what is the table of contents used for?

A proposal must only provide information; it need not motivate your audience to act.

An unsolicited proposal typically uses a direct format.

Many proposals,especially those that are unsolicited,are unsuccessful because the audience decides to do nothing at all.

A(n) ________ briefly summarizes the most important information in the proposal and key decision makers might read only this document and,based on how persuasive it is,decide whether or not to read the entire document.

If a proposal is ________,you need to provide some extra structure so that readers can navigate the document and easily find the information they are looking for.

In addition to serving as a persuasive tool,a sales proposal often serves as a sales contract.

Which of the following can help a writer best track the interests of the audience,allowing a more targeted proposal?

Most proposals are delivered in writing after an oral presentation.