1. Proposals Charles A. DiMarzio GEU110 Northeastern University Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University

2. Government Types Grants University SBIR/STTR Contracts Sources Military Other Agencies NIH, NSF, DOE, EPA, NOAA, NIST Local Government Other Companies Users Manufacturers Venture Capital CompaniesInternal Funds Company IR&D University Programs Private Foundations Rich Relatives Sources of Funding Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University

3. Proposal Format • Technical Proposal (NIH Format) • 1. SPECIFIC AIMS • 2. BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE • 3. PRELIMINARY RESULTS • 4. APPROACH • Management (For this course) • 5. SCHEDULE • 6. COST Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University

4. Technical Proposal • 1. Describe the SPECIFIC AIMS of your project. You should be able to reduce these to perhaps three or four very concise statements, with a short paragraph elaborating on each. • 2. Include a section on BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE. What is the situation prior to your proposed work? Cite the literature or patents as appropriate. How would your proposal change this situation? • 3. Discuss any PRELIMINARY RESULTS, which may be the result of experience you had before you started working on this proposal, or from research you did to pick the topic. • 4. Describe the APPROACH you will use for design and development of whatever you propose. This should connect closely to the specific aims above. Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University

5. Management Proposal • 5. Provide a schedule of tasks and the assigned responsibilities. • 6. Provide a rough cost analysis of the design and of the resulting product. • Other Parts (Not Required Here) • Personnel • Facilities • Safety, Animal, Human Subjects, Employment, etc. Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University

6. A Word About Reports Again • I give points for • Cover Letter (If appropriate) • Abstract • Table of Contents and Figures • Technical Content (Most heavily) • References (If appropriate) • Grammar and Spelling • General Appearance Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University

7. Some Grammar Issues • A preposition is a terrible part of speech to end a sentence with. • And starting with a conjunction isn’t much better. • Another thing. Little short phrases. Not quite sentences. Not good. Unless you are Jonathan Franzen. Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University

8. Some Style Issues • Use section headings. • Informal expressions in technical writing are usually uncool. • Use parallel constructions in lists. • Never have one item in a sublist • Active voice and first person are acceptable to me, but not to everyone in engineering. • “Mistakes were made.” • You shouldn’t use the second person. • Give figures and tables numbers, and refer to them in the text. Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University

9. Websites as Sources • Use the web to... • Learn about a new field • Find out who is working in the field • Get pointers to the archival literature • Do not use web pages as citations • They are transient • They are not refereed • Catalog information for pricing, etc. is an exception if you include date information, etc. Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University

10. Some Ethical Issues • If you borrow a figure, cite the source. • Reference anyone who contributes to your idea. • Paraphrasing is not the same thing as expressing your own thoughts. Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University

11. Review Charles A. DiMarzio GEU110 Northeastern University Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University

12. Needs Assessment Implementation Ch. 2 11 Problem Formulation Analysis 8,9,10 3, 4, 5 Abstraction and Synthesis 6,7 The Circle Diagram • What goes on at each stage? • Think about your minor project (ping-pong launcher) Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University

13. Needs Assessment • Different Types of Needs • Revolutionary vs. Evolutionary, Best vs. Good Enough, Best vs. Best We Can Afford • Examples: Phone Numbers, FM Stereo, IVHS, Mohs Surgery, etc. • Market Pull vs. Technology Push • Political Issues Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University

14. Problem Formulation • Constraints and Boundaries • Qualitative Goals (faster, better, cheaper) • Advantages/Disadvantages of Revision Method • Dunker Diagrams • Kepner Tregoe Analysis Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University

15. Other Topics • Wright Brothers Movie • Microscope Design Example • Cost Proposals • Design in Industry vs. University • Barcode Scanners, Colortron, Microscope • COGS • Profit Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University

16. A Thought for Next Week • In preparation for a class exercise, see what you can learn about helicopters. Chuck DiMarzio, Northeastern University