You need to have a professional proposal in order to:

• plan the project

• collectively arrive at the plan and standards (ideal)

• persuade the decision makers of your ability to complete the project

• establish the basis for the project contract (payments and final look and feel of deliverable)

• determine the deliverables

You need to have solid documentation in order to:

• plan the project

• keep the team on task and organized

• have a published record of standards and the plan to guide the implementation of the plan

• finalize the deliverables

• validate your progress to your supervisor / client

• tie progress payments to your completed tasks