grant proposals
Classmate 1
Tiffany, I agree with you that the grant proposals include many processes, and among them is the evaluation that focuses on the effectiveness of the entire project. Verifiable empirical data is crucial in ensuring that the analysis of a project is based on facts. I agree with you that the evaluation process can be costly. Summative and formative evaluations provide essential data concerning the success or failure of the project. I would recommend a formative assessment on a project because it allows for an opportunity for making adjustments as the project continues. The internal reports could indicate inefficiency in some parts of the project, and the management is allowed to adjust some aspects of the budget.
I agree with you that having the evaluation performed by an internal employee is cheaper than outsourcing. The employee needs to know the evaluation so that the process becomes more affordable and more manageable. Indeed, a combination of both qualitative and quantitative data regarding a project offers a better chance of identifying the areas that need changes. The ability to predict the results of a project is essential when choosing whether to maintain the original plan or to change it. I agree with you that a project proposal that is unclear should be altered to incorporate the necessary bits of details.
Reference
Thamhain, H. J. (2014). Assessing the effectiveness of quantitative and qualitative methods for R&D project proposal evaluations. Engineering Management Journal, 26(3), 3-12.
Classmate 2
Martha, you make an interesting point regarding the incorporation of both summative and formative methods of evaluation. I agree with you that the formative assessment is useful in assessing a project while it is still in progress. I think that the formative evaluation is effective in making sure that errors that were not foreseen are dealt with in time, such that the final project is successful. The summative evaluation that is performed at the end of the project is also essential because it takes a shorter time, and all the details are observable. However, it would be expensive to use the two methods in evaluating a single project. In my opinion, summative evaluation is sufficient.
Indeed, the evaluation of a grant proposal should be performed without bias, and an eternal evaluator might perform that role better because they would not make any assumptions. Both qualitative and quantitative data are crucial in identifying anomalies and raising a red flag to ensure that the right actions are taken to remedy the anticipated problems. I agree with you that writing a proposal should be done with a strong base of valid information that can be retrieved when required. You should edit your proposal to ensure that all the relevant details are incorporated.
Reference
Singh, P., & Ruparathna, R. (2019). Construction project proposal evaluation under uncertainty: A fuzzy-based approach. Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, (ja).