The Quality Initiative Proposal Process: Fill & Download for Free

Mentoring and providing guidance (both technical and otherwise) to the student. Graduate school is a stressful and challenging environmentWriting the initial proposal which helps provide funding for that student. Professors submit research proposals to funding agencies, and this provides money to fund graduate students.Helping to edit and guide the writing of papers, and assisting with the navigation of the peer-review process. Writing an academic journal paper is very different from normal writing, and no one can get it right the first time. The adviser helps the student to become proficient at academic writing.It is hubris and arrogance to think that professors make small intellectual contributions and that the students and postdocs deserve all of the credit. Sure, the professors don’t do the research work themselves, but professors provide the resources, environment, and wisdom which allows the students to create high-quality work. Without the professors efforts, their research group would not exist.Saying that professors make fewer contributions than students and postdocs is like saying a tree grew all on its own without any help from the soil. This is indeed arrogant, since it was the soil that provided the nutrients and base which was essential for the tree to grow in the first place.

A2A: The sales process is similar to many other B2B services sales, with a great brand and great referrals.“No one gets fired for using IBM” could feasibly these days be replaced with “No one gets fired for hiring McKinsey, BCG, or Bain.”Their sales process has 3 parts:Lead GenProposalSoW and ‘Close’LEAD GENThis is the specialty of consulting firms. Most business comes from word of mouth or prior experience. Alumni become buyers, because they know the quality of the previous work. Often they have relationships directly with the CEO’s, making introductions and leads extremely easy.But if that doesn’t work, the BCG, McK’s, and Bain’s of the world have great marketing departments.Heard of Net Promoter Score? Invented by Bain. ‘Delayering’ instead of cutting jobs? BCG. McKinsey Quarterly? That should be obvious.These firms package and sell knowledge, and are very good at it.Odds are the statistics some executive is using comes from a study commissioned or enabled by one of the major consultancies.This means they are top of mind. They visit the websites, which are huge content and lead generation farms. They offer ‘Perspectives’ into the market, and conveniently have the experts or partners listed at the bottom for questions. These get leads.Occasionally there are RFP’s, but usually that avenue is less common.PROPOSALOnce you’ve gotten a lead, the partner will lead a proposal process.The proposals are Powerpoint decks that discuss the consultancy’s approach to the problem generated in the lead gen or referral.More and more often, we would have a standardized methodology that we took to ‘Lean Operations’ or ‘Power Plant Cost Cutting’ or ‘MVNO Strategy.’ There would be a few slides on who we are, the partners’ expertise, our approach to the topic, some previous case studies and results.Associates or junior folks put these decks together from previous proposals (which are stored on a knowledge management system). Hot Topics often come with a pre-approved deck.Usually, on-the-beach consultants will do some analysis specific to the company, do some comparisons and provide an initial perspective.SoW and SaleProvided that goes well, we’ll move onto a project plan. Again there are standard rates and terms here. You’ll write a Statement of Work or of Service. Usually, this includes the fee structure, deliverables, team that will be on it, rates, etc.There is sometimes a bit of negotiation around the legal and the rates (especially if it’s a new consulting client, but often it is not).The SoW is signed and the work starts. Alternatively, sometimes teams will start on ‘investment’ with the expectation an agreement is reached on a particular matter, but this is rarer.OverallMostly a standard B2B services sale. It’s just that McKinsey, Bain and BCG have much deeper benches of similar project work, better marketing, and a sterling reputation which earns them extraordinary fees for the work they do.

While you are looking for a spouse, don't compromise on certain qualities.He/she should have a concern towards their fitness - you don't need to choose a fitness freak. But you need to find someone who does basic activities like walking or just being active throughout the day. This is only way by which one can safeguard themselves from diabetics and blood pressure. Maintaining health after 35 would be a priority.Not too cribby about money - we all earn to spend. Ensure that your future partner doesn't count on every penny that you spend. This can be a pain in the wrong place.Freedom to breathe - your partner should not expect you to update him/her about your every move. This might look romantic during the initial days, but later this can become suffocating.Trust - your future partner should trust you. This is a very important characteristic that one should hold. If he/she becomes judgemental about your friendships with the opposite gender then it would spoil the relationship.Conversationalist - when you get old, only conversations would be your companion so you should like what your partner talks. This is more to do with the thought process of an individual.Keep smiling…