How to Write a Software Development Proposal

Software proposals indicate how a business problem will be resolved by computerization.

A software development proposal is intended to provide information about a possible software solution to automate a business process or resolve a business problem. Software development proposals can be different in the format, depending on the intended target project. At the very least, a software proposal should contain a high-level design, introduction and main body with a conclusion outlining resources, costs and other pertinent information.

Instructions

1. Identify business requirements. The business requirements are an essential ingredient for any software proposal. Identify business requirements by questioning managers, obtaining the survey results and observing how the business currently operates.

2. Draw up a high-level design of the current and proposed business setting. Use logical design techniques, such as Unified Modeling Language, to include hardware, software and interfaces.

3. Write a proposal document and include any designs and explanations. The document should indicate the target audience, an introduction and a step-by-step main body describing the stages of development required and any methods and techniques to be used in the process.

4. Summarize the information in the conclusion and mention proposed time scales, resources, costs and any other information pertinent to the software development. The conclusion can also summarize information stated in the body of the proposal, such as detailed costs and interfaces.

References

• TechRepublic: TechRepublic Tutorial: Writing a proposal for help desk software