Executive Summary
One-page overview of purpose, total capital requested, expected benefits, key risks, and recommended decision so approvers can act quickly.
A well-structured proposal clarifies funding needs, aligns stakeholders on scope and benefits, and provides auditors with a traceable record of decisions and assumptions.
Typical preparers and reviewers vary by organization and project size; collaboration across functions is common.
Roles may expand to include procurement, legal, and compliance for regulated projects or those requiring contracts and special approvals.
One-page overview of purpose, total capital requested, expected benefits, key risks, and recommended decision so approvers can act quickly.
Clear description of deliverables, in-scope and out-of-scope items, assumptions, and acceptance criteria that define project boundaries.
Line-item capital costs, implementation and lifecycle operating cost estimates, contingency allowances, and basis for cost estimates.
High-level timeline with key milestones, critical path dependencies, procurement lead times, and expected project start and completion dates.
Material project risks with likelihood and impact ratings plus planned mitigations and residual risk after controls are applied.
Required signatories, approval thresholds, post-approval reporting cadence, and change-control procedures for scope or budget changes.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Submitter Email | Required; auto-populate from single sign-on identity. |
| Approval Order | Finance then Executive Sponsor; parallel reviewer optional. |
| Signer Authentication | Email link default; use SMS or MFA for sensitive approvals. |
| Conditional Fields | Show contingency or lease fields when funding type selected. |
Use platforms that accept PDF/DOCX, support audit trails, and meet applicable compliance requirements.
Select a solution that integrates with enterprise systems, preserves metadata, and produces a verifiable certificate of completion.
| signNow | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | PandaDoc | HelloSign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $8/user/mo | $15/user/mo | $14/user/mo | $19/user/mo | $15/user/mo |
| Free Trial | 7-day free trial | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan |
| Bulk Send | Yes (tiered) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Varies |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Envelope Cap | No cap | 100 envelopes/user/year | Varies by plan | Varies | Varies |