Group project — proposal

Groups will be assigned by your professor after turning in your memos.

The group will select one of the group member’s memos to implement and expand upon.

The group will collectively write a brief proposal (750 words or less in main body, titles, headers) to the head of data analytics at the identified organization. The proposal should persuade the executive to approve of the group’s proposed project to begin. Part of being persuasive here involves detailing how the group will implement and expand upon the selected analytics project articulated in the memo.

Groups should consider how to structure (and order) the proposal information according to all class discussions, examples, and readings (e.g., Doumont). The proposal should have an explicit call-to-action, motivating the analytics executive to approve of your group moving forward with the project.

To understand your audience, review Zetlin (2017), and conduct online research (Google searches, LinkedIn, etcetera).

The proposal will be assessed on the following:

• effectively persuades the audience of the feasibility of your group performing the analysis this semester, and its value to the organization;

• effectively uses messages (not merely information) in the title, headers, and supporting paragraphs. Explains the opportunity and methodology, motivates the audience with a call-to-action, identifies and properly cites data and variables, and properly cites previous, related work for context;

• focused, concise language integrated with explanatory data visuals (at least two) and tables (at least one) using techniques from class discussions;

• visual organization follows best practices in use of grids and typographic choices from class discussions;

• writing and visuals are audience-centric; and

• individual contributions to group efforts.

One person in your group submit onto courseworks the proposal, and in an appendix include group-member, contribution scores as either html or pdf files.

The appendix of self-assessment, contribution scores for each group member should be formatted as follows:

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Each member of our group, as members of Columbia University adhering to its academic integrity and community standards — agrees that our individual contribution scores should be assigned as listed below:

Group number:

Member name	Contribution Score (0 - 10 scale)
Last name, first name	number, from below criteria
Last name, first name	number, from below criteria
Last name, first name	number, from below criteria
Last name, first name	number, from below criteria
Last name, first name	number, from below criteria

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Self-assessment, contribution scores assessed on a 0-10 scale as follows:

10 I always: attend group meetings; actively contribute to group discussions and work to complete the assignment; listen attentively; ask and answer questions. And I ensure all fellow group members come to a solid understanding of the project material and concepts it applies.

8 I always: attend group meetings; actively contribute to group discussions and work to complete the assignment; listen attentively; ask and answer questions. But I don’t work towards ensuring a mastery of the project material by group members.

5 I sometimes: attend group meetings; actively contribute to group discussions and work to complete the assignment; listen attentively; ask and answer questions. But I don’t work towards ensuring a mastery of the project material by group members.

3 I contribute to group discussions and work in a limited way. I listen, but respond only when asked a question and don’t provide much collaboration.

0 I may sometimes attend group meetings, and I am somewhat attentive, but do not engage in collaboration with my group members.

If the group believes scoring falls between the above descriptions, score accordingly.

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Of note, this proposal sets up your group’s work on upcoming interactive and multimodal communications, each for different audiences.