Overview

A good project proposal can convince decision-makers to approve the project. Claude can help you present the project background, solution, value, and plan in a structured way, making the proposal both professional and persuasive.

Use Cases

Internal project initiation
Client solution proposals
Investment pitch decks
Partnership proposals

Steps

Step 1: Define Proposal Elements

Collect and organize project information.

I need to write a technical project proposal:
Project: Refactoring the legacy system's user module
Background: The existing system has severe technical debt and is difficult to maintain
Goal: Improve performance by 50%, reduce maintenance costs
Budget: 500,000 RMB
Timeline: 6 months
Audience: Technical Director and CTO

Please help me organize:
- Problem statement (why we need to do this)
- Solution (how to do it)
- Business value (what benefits it brings)
- Risks and mitigation
- Resource requirements

Step 2: Write the Executive Summary

Summarize the entire proposal in one page.

Please generate an Executive Summary:

Word count: 300-400 words
Include:
- Project name and one-sentence description
- Core problem (pain point)
- Recommended solution
- Key benefits (quantified)
- Return on investment
- Timeline
- Required decision

Tone: Concise, powerful, data-driven
Goal: Let decision-makers understand the project value in 2 minutes

Save as ~/proposals/executive_summary.md

Step 3: Write the Complete Proposal

Generate a detailed proposal document.

Please generate the complete proposal: ~/proposals/system_refactor_proposal.md

# User Module Refactoring Project Proposal

## 1. Executive Summary
[Content generated earlier]

## 2. Project Background and Problem Statement
**Current State**:
- User module is based on technology stack from 5 years ago
- High code complexity, long bug fix cycles
- Performance bottlenecks causing increased user complaints

**Supporting Data**:
- Average response time: 1.2s (industry standard 300ms)
- Monthly bugs: 15+
- Development efficiency: New feature cycle 2 weeks (should be 3 days)

**Impact**:
- User churn rate up 5%
- Low team morale
- Declining competitiveness

## 3. Solution
**Technical Approach**:
- Rewrite frontend with React + TypeScript
- Migrate backend to microservices architecture
- Introduce automated testing

**Implementation Strategy**:
- Phased migration, zero-downtime deployment
- Maintain API compatibility
- Transition period with old and new systems running in parallel

**Architecture Diagram**:
[Describe required architecture diagram]

## 4. Business Value
**Direct Benefits**:
- 50% performance improvement (1.2s -> 600ms)
- 70% bug reduction (monthly average 15 -> 5)
- 3x development efficiency improvement

**Indirect Benefits**:
- Improved user satisfaction, reduced churn
- Attract top talent
- Foundation for future innovation

**ROI Analysis**:
- Investment: 500,000 RMB
- Annual savings: 200,000 maintenance + 300,000 opportunity cost
- Payback period: 12 months

## 5. Implementation Plan
**Timeline**:
| Phase | Duration | Milestone |
|-------|----------|-----------|
| 1. Requirements & Design | Weeks 1-4 | Technical solution design complete |
| 2. Core Refactoring | Weeks 5-12 | Core modules complete |
| 3. Feature Migration | Weeks 13-20 | All features migrated |
| 4. Testing & Launch | Weeks 21-24 | Production environment stable |

**Resource Requirements**:
- Frontend Engineers x 2
- Backend Engineers x 2
- QA Engineer x 1
- Project Manager x 1 (50% time)

## 6. Risks and Mitigation
| Risk | Impact | Probability | Mitigation |
|------|--------|-------------|------------|
| Data migration failure | High | Medium | Thorough testing, rollback plan ready |
| Staff turnover | Medium | Low | Knowledge documentation, cross-training |
| Technology choice mistake | High | Low | POC validation, technical review |

## 7. Success Criteria
- Performance targets met (response time < 600ms)
- 70% bug rate reduction
- 10% user satisfaction improvement
- On-time delivery (within 2 weeks)

## 8. Next Steps
- [ ] Approve project and budget
- [ ] Assemble project team
- [ ] Start technical research
- [ ] Develop detailed plan

## 9. Appendix
- A. Technology selection comparison
- B. Cost breakdown
- C. Reference cases

Step 4: Prepare Supporting Materials

Create accompanying presentation materials.

Please prepare proposal presentation materials:

1. **PPT Outline** (15 slides)
   - Problem & Current State (3 slides): Data and cases
   - Solution (5 slides): Architecture diagrams and processes
   - Value Analysis (3 slides): ROI charts
   - Implementation Plan (2 slides): Gantt chart
   - Q&A (2 slides): Prepared questions

2. **Technical Assessment Report**
   - Current system analysis
   - Technology selection rationale
   - POC test results

3. **Cost-Benefit Analysis Table**
   - Investment breakdown
   - Benefit estimates
   - ROI calculation model

4. **Case Studies**
   - Similar project success cases
   - Lessons learned

Save to ~/proposals/support_materials/

Step 5: Prepare Q&A Session

Rehearse possible questions and answers.

Please prepare Q&A document: ~/proposals/qa_prep.md

**Expected Questions and Answers**:

Q1: "Why can't we just optimize the existing system instead of refactoring?"
A: The existing system's technical debt has reached a point that cannot be solved through partial optimization...
[Support with data and cases, compare costs and benefits of both approaches]

Q2: "Is 6 months too long? Will it affect other projects?"
A: We evaluated a more aggressive 4-month plan, but the risk was too high...
[Explain timeline reasonableness, clarify it won't block other projects]

Q3: "What if the project fails?"
A: We've designed phased delivery and rollback mechanisms...
[Show risk control measures]

Q4: "Why choose this tech stack instead of XX?"
A: We did POC comparisons of 3 solutions...
[Technical evaluation data, team capability fit]

Q5: "How were the ROI numbers calculated?"
A: ROI is based on three dimensions...
[Detailed calculation logic, conservative estimates]

For each question, prepare:
- Short answer (30 seconds)
- Detailed explanation (2 minutes)
- Supporting data

Also prepare "I'll need to research and get back to you" responses

Warning: Don't over-promise. Use conservative estimates and leave buffer room. Acknowledging uncertainty is more credible than blind confidence. If the project has significant risks, be upfront about them.

Tip: Use the "Problem-Solution-Value" narrative structure. Start with pain points, then the solution, finally the benefits. Use data to support every claim. Visualize presentations—charts are more persuasive than text.

Common Questions

Q: What if the proposal is rejected? A: Ask about specific reasons and concerns. Is it budget, timing, or the solution itself? Adjust based on feedback and resubmit. Sometimes rejection is about timing—patiently wait for the right opportunity.

Q: How do I quantify hard-to-measure benefits? A: Use comparison: What happens if we don't do it? Use industry benchmark data. Convert user feedback into measurable metrics. Even "improved team morale" can be quantified through retention rate and hiring success rate.

Q: How do I respond to "budget isn't enough"? A: Offer a phased approach, starting with high-priority items. Compare the "cost of not doing it." Explore external funding or partnership opportunities. Demonstrate ROI appeal.