Understanding Concept Papers for Research and Project Proposals

Concept Paper

A concept paper is a critical document that outlines the goals and objectives of a proposed project or research, often used to generate feedback and guidance from a program officer before a full grant proposal is developed. The paper is designed to answer specific questions, such as "What's the problem?" and "Who cares?". The optimal format of the concept paper depends on the project, and it may not need to address all the questions mentioned. The purpose of a concept paper is to provide a clear, concise, and compelling argument for the project's importance and feasibility, ensuring that the project aligns with the priorities and mission of the sponsor.

Purpose of a Concept Paper

The primary purpose of a concept paper is to:

1. Demonstrate Understanding of the Problem: Clearly state the problem or gap in a concise manner that demonstrates your grasp of the literature. If proposing a research project, state the research objectives.

2. Highlight the Significance of the Project: Explain the significance of the project in terms of advancing knowledge and benefiting the public. Identify the group(s) that will benefit from the research.

3. Outline the Approach: Provide goals/specific aims, study design, access to the population, and a statement about why you are ideally suited to tackle the problem and what is unique about your approach.

4. Detail the Deliverables: Outline the deliverables, which can include intangibles such as outreach events, grant applications, trained individuals/groups, and tangibles like new or improved products, patents, partnerships, paradigms, process improvement, dissemination products, etc.

5. Define Evaluation: Discuss how you will know you've achieved your goals, as this section is often a critical part of an application. While not necessary to generate a positive response from a program officer, it may lead to valuable feedback.

6. Identify Team Members: If applicable, list the team members involved in the project.

Concept Paper in Practice

The Concept Paper has been used effectively in various industries, such as the oil & gas industry, to improve product development processes. For instance, TechnipFMC, a company designing equipment and services for the Oil & gas industry, introduced the Concept Paper in its lean product development process. The company faced issues with loose product and project development processes that lacked a clear purpose, undefined responsibilities, flexible timelines, and poor cost awareness. By implementing the Concept Paper, TechnipFMC aimed to address these issues at the planning phase of the project, when overall expectations for the execution phase were being defined.

Writing a Concept Paper

When writing a concept paper, consider the following tips:

1. Avoid Jargon: Write in a simple, direct manner to ensure that your ideas are communicated effectively.

2. Understand Your Sponsor: Read your sponsor's mission statement and look at their most recent budget request to Congress to understand their priorities and express them in plain language.

3. Follow the Golden Rule: Think about the kind of project summary you'd like to read and avoid forced, "grantsmanship" language.

4. Design Your Paper: Structure your paper to answer the questions mentioned above, but the format can vary depending on your project. For example, some papers may begin with an introductory statement that provides a general statement about what you are trying to accomplish.

In conclusion, a concept paper is a crucial document that helps ensure that a proposed project or research aligns with the priorities and mission of the sponsor. By following the guidelines and best practices outlined above, you can create a compelling and effective concept paper that will generate valuable feedback and guidance.