Business Proposal Evaluation

Instructions

Evaluate business proposals systematically through eight executive perspectives with weighted scoring to produce actionable recommendations.

Evaluation Dimensions

Score each dimension on a 1-5 scale (1 = critical gaps, 5 = exceptional):

Scoring Protocol

1. Read the proposal completely before scoring any dimension
2. Score each dimension independently — avoid halo effects from strong dimensions
3. Cite specific evidence from the proposal for each score
4. Flag missing information — score based on what’s present; note what’s absent
5. Calculate weighted total: Multiply each score by weight, sum for composite score

Composite Score Interpretation

Multi-Perspective Synthesis

After individual dimension scoring, synthesize through these executive lenses:

• CEO lens: Does this move the needle on what matters most right now?
• CFO lens: Are the numbers defensible under stress? What’s the cash flow impact?
• COO lens: Can we actually deliver this without breaking what’s working?
• CMO lens: Is there real market pull, or are we pushing a solution?
• CTO lens: Does this strengthen or weaken our technical foundation?
• CHRO lens: Do we have the people? Will this cause burnout or attrition?
• GC lens: What’s the worst-case legal/regulatory exposure?
• Board lens: Would an independent advisor support this with their own money?

Red Flags (Auto-Downgrade)

Any of these reduce the composite score by 0.5 points:

• No customer evidence cited
• No alternatives or options analysis
• Revenue projections without stated assumptions
• No risk mitigation plan
• No kill criteria or exit conditions
• Undefined ownership or accountability
• Timeline without resource allocation

Inputs Required

• Proposal document: The full business proposal or summary
• Strategic context: Current company priorities, recent board decisions, active initiatives
• Financial context: Budget availability, current commitments, financial constraints
• Evaluation purpose: Investment decision, resource allocation, strategic planning, or portfolio review
• Custom weights (optional): Override default dimension weights for specific contexts

Output Format

1. Executive Summary: 2-3 sentence assessment with composite score and recommendation
2. Dimension Scorecard: Table with dimension, score, weight, weighted score, and evidence/rationale
3. Multi-Perspective Synthesis: Key observations from each executive lens (2-3 sentences each)
4. Red Flags: List of auto-downgrade triggers found
5. Diligence Gaps: Missing information that would change the assessment
6. Recommendation: Approve / Conditional Approve / Revise / Do Not Proceed — with specific conditions or required revisions
7. Decision Questions: 5-7 questions the proposal must answer before final approval

Anti-Patterns

• Score inflation: Giving 4s and 5s without specific evidence — require citations for any score above 3
• Single-lens evaluation: Evaluating only through financial or strategic lens — all eight dimensions matter
• Ignoring what’s missing: Scoring only on what’s presented rather than flagging critical omissions
• Anchoring to the ask: Letting the proposal’s framing constrain the evaluation — challenge framing assumptions
• Rubber-stamping: Using the framework to justify a predetermined conclusion — score before forming opinion
• Perfectionism: Requiring 5.0 scores to proceed — most strong proposals score 3.5-4.5