---
title: "Proposal objectives, limitations, questions answered"
subject: "Project Engineering"
chapter: 2
key: "semester_7/project_engineering:proposal-objectives-limitations-questions"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/project_engineering/proposal-objectives-limitations-questions
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Proposal objectives, limitations, questions answered

Project Engineering · Chapter 2: Project Appraisal and Project Formulation

- Asked in: 2076 Asoj, 3+3 marks
- Video: [A sixth sense for project management | Tres Roeder | TEDxCWRU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zqwlr8sp2Y) — TEDx Talks
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/project_engineering/proposal-objectives-limitations-questions
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/project_engineering/chapter-2

## Question

Write down three objectives and three limitations of any project proposal. Explain which types of questions a good project proposal should give answers to.

## Short answer

Three objectives are to secure funding, define scope/method/cost/schedule, and provide a baseline for control. Limitations include reliance on estimates, resource-intensive preparation, and possible bias. A good proposal answers why, what, how, who, where, when, cost, benefits, risks, and sustainability.

## Answer

**Objectives (three):**
1. To obtain approval and funding for the project from the client or donor.
2. To describe clearly the scope, method, cost and schedule so that all parties agree on what will be done.
3. To serve as a baseline for contract, monitoring and control.

**Limitations (three):**
1. It is based on assumptions and estimates, so actual cost and time may differ.
2. Preparation takes time and money, and incomplete data reduces accuracy.
3. It may be biased towards winning approval and may overstate benefits; it cannot cover all future changes.

#### Questions a good proposal should answer

A well prepared proposal answers these questions:

| Question | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Why? | Need, background and justification |
| What? | Objectives, scope and deliverables |
| How? | Method, technology and design |
| Who? | Implementing team, responsibility and beneficiaries |
| Where? | Location and site |
| When? | Schedule and milestones |
| How much? | Cost, budget and funding |
| What benefit? | Economic, social and environmental outcome |
| What if? | Risks and mitigation |
| How sustainable? | Operation, maintenance and monitoring |

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Which is an objective of a proposal?
   A. Remove all risks
   B. Guarantee exact cost
   C. Replace the contract
   D. Obtain approval and funding and serve as baseline for contract, monitoring and control
   Answer: D. Proposals aim to win approval and set a baseline. (Key point: Objective)

2. Which is a limitation of a proposal?
   A. It is always exact
   B. It covers all future changes
   C. Based on assumptions and estimates, so actual cost and time may differ
   D. It needs no data
   Answer: C. Assumptions limit accuracy. (Key point: Limitation)

3. Which question does cost, budget and funding answer?
   A. When?
   B. Why?
   C. How much?
   D. Where?
   Answer: C. 'How much?' covers cost, budget and funding. (Key point: Question 'How much')

4. What does 'What if?' address in a proposal?
   A. Beneficiaries
   B. Schedule
   C. Risks and mitigation
   D. Location
   Answer: C. 'What if?' is risks and mitigation. (Key point: Question 'What if')

## Related in Project Engineering

- [Contents of a good project proposal](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aproposal-contents-components) — Project Engineering, chapter 2, asked 3×
- [Proposal; feasibility study of a road project](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aproposal-questions-feasibility-road) — Project Engineering, chapter 2
- [Appraisal contents; procedure for good proposal](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aappraisal-content-proposal-procedure) — Project Engineering, chapter 2
- [Essence of writing a good proposal](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aproposal-essence-good) — Project Engineering, chapter 2
- [Task environment influence on project objectives](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Atask-environment-influence-objectives) — Project Engineering, chapter 1
- [Procedure for developing a project proposal](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aproposal-procedure-develop) — Project Engineering, chapter 2, asked 4×

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