SI Developer Story
#6. Mastering SI Projects - Proposal Story
To win an SI project, a proposal must be written and submitted to the client who has issued the project, and the project is won through a bidding competition. At this time, the client creates a request for proposal (RFP) stating, "We need this program, so please propose it like this."
Based on this RFP, SI companies create a proposal with matching table of contents and content. The proposal includes various aspects such as development methods, security, user training, and risk management related to the requirements. Typically, sales personnel are responsible for writing proposals, but since it's customary for the team handling the subsequent operational project of a completed project to take on the next one, the SI company often ends up writing both the RFP and the proposal.
Since the company has already built the system, they have a better understanding than other companies, and a level of trust has already been built with the business unit. Therefore, even though it's a bidding process, the project can be won simply by meeting the formalities.
In this case, the project manager (PM) works with the business unit in advance to align on requirements and write the RFP. After the business unit confirms it, the following year's business plans are based on this RFP. Typically, newly hired developers are tasked with creating the proposal.
The format of the proposal is mostly similar, and except for the requirements section, the rest can be copy-pasted like a personal statement. So, there's no need to worry too much.
Think of the proposal as another form of documentation, like the final document of a project. It becomes easier to approach it that way. Once you've written one, you'll get a feel for it, and the second and third times you write it, you'll be able to do it much faster. In the future, when you take on the role of PM, you'll need to pay attention to these details, so if you have the opportunity, it's a good idea to experience it at least once.
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