“One miracle per project,” used to be a common saying around my mission development teams. It meant that you could explain to evaluators one new technology that puts you ahead of the competition, but not more. Include more than one … Continue reading Do not wait for technology
Recently, my good friend Rolf invited me to contribute a post to this site on proposal writing. Rolf and I worked together on many proposals at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and a sizable share got funded. I would like to … Continue reading The Three Rules of Proposal Writing
There is plenty of frustration to be had on both side of the canyon that separates the people who develop new technologies and the project managers who are looking for solutions to their urgent issues. Technologist: Why aren’t you interested … Continue reading Bridging the valley of death?
My last article may have made it sound like no projects can be kept on budget and I want to correct that. The only projects this applies to are very large, generational projects that are developed over decades. They aim … Continue reading How to stay the course
The most common criticism of publicly funded projects is that they are so often over budget and behind schedule. There is no shortage of famous examples. High-speed rail in California, the Big Dig in Boston, and the Channel Tunnel. Most … Continue reading Why projects don’t stay on track
Whether at work or at home, our lives are in the middle of an AI-driven transformation. Just as the proverbial frogs in the heating pot, we struggle to find fitting analogies that comfort. Is this like the dot-com boom, and … Continue reading Into the Crisis
In Part I of this two-part article, I wrote about winning as only the first step in building a lasting relationship with a sponsor. That piece was focused on the researcher who, in the end, only has to report on … Continue reading You won. Part II
“We are pleased to inform you that your proposal was selected for funding.” That’s the sentence you were hoping for in an email, selection letter, or during a phone call. Finally, you can stop reading/listening, take the check to the … Continue reading You won. Now what?
The last few weeks before you submit a major proposal can get pretty frantic. Everyone seems to suddenly realize that this is it and the “notes” are starting to come in at an ever increasing pace. So here are three … Continue reading 3 steps to protect your endgame
Let me start with something I hope we can agree on: A proposal is not a box of chocolates. You should know exactly what you are going to get. In my last post, I argued, not for the first time, … Continue reading 3 tips for successful win themes
Rolf Danner 