This introduces another theoretical and practical difference between business proposals and formal research, and that is the evaluation of their results. Typically business proposals have specific revenue and cost objectives associated with them, yet lack the precision of results that formal research has. Business proposals' variability is not as easily quantified and measured, and therefore potentially overcome as the more planned approach of formal research. Formal research methodologies can take into account potential sampling errors, respondent biases and also control for specific errors in completing the study. The finite and highly measured result of formal research is in contrast to the business proposal's multitudinous effects on people and groups in the company it is meant for. Formal research also can be longitudinal or focused on comparing the implications of a given research methodology over time, with no specific payback except for the creation of knowledge. For business proposals it is the creation of value that is often translated into financial gain that matters the most the majority of the time.

Summary

Research done on business proposals indicates that their weakest area of performance is in the ability to stay focused and relevant on a single audience (Lagerwerf, Bossers, 2002). Research specifically on audience...

Contrasting this to the approach taken in formal research of validating a given research methodology, defining hypotheses as part of the research design, and executing the research plan to specifically focus on validity and reliability of measurement. Formal research then concentrates on reliability and validity while business proposals look to minimize risk, yet cannot completely alleviate it. Both seek out value, with business proposals looking at financial gain while formal research concentrating on the development of information and knowledge.
References

Jeffrey Jablonski (1999). Teaching the complexity of business proposals. Business Communication Quarterly, 62(3), 108-111. Retrieved January 6, 2009, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 44309653)

Judd, Larry R. (1990). Importance and Use of Formal Research and Evaluation. Public Relations Review, 16(4), 17. Retrieved January 7, 2009, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 9051599).

Luuk Lagerwerf, Ellis Bossers. (2002). Assessing business proposals: Genre conventions and audience response in document design. The Journal of Business Communication, 39(4), 437-460. Retrieved January 7, 2009, from ABI/INFORM Global…