Textbook Problem

What category of proposal, solicited or unsolicited, is more likely to succeed, and why?

Summary Introduction

To determine:

The category of proposal which is more likely to succeed between solicited or unsolicited should be identified and explained.

Introduction:

Business proposals are prepared for different purposes. For example, to promote a product or service, to request funds for a project.

Answer to Problem 11CT

Solution:

Solicited proposals are often effective as they are prepared as per the customer’s request. Sometimes unsolicited proposals are also more convincing as a customer gets it without a request. On the other hand, some customers will not even read a proposal which they have not requested.

Explanation of Solution

Given information:

Solicited and unsolicited proposal is one type of business proposal.

When an organization has a specific requirement, they prepare a request for proposal (RFP) by specifying their need. As a response RFP, a business organization will prepare a proposal which is called a solicited proposal. An unsolicited proposal is a proposal prepared and sent to a customer without a request (without a RFP).

Solicited proposals are often effective as they are prepared to cater the specific needs of the requester/ customer. Therefore, the business organization can include all the required details and sometimes they follow the format requested by the customer.

However, when preparing unsolicited proposals, business organizations include information that they think customer would consider. In this case customers will sometimes be happy as they get a proposal with details without any request and no cost occurred. On the other hand, some customers will not even read the proposal as they have not requested.