BODY OF KNOWLIDGE

The APMP Body of Knowledge

The APMP Body of Knowledge (BOK) represents the collective wisdom of the world’s leading professionals in tendering, proposal, and opportunity management, as well as business development. Developed and reviewed by more than 80 industry experts using 70 research-based publications, the APMP BOK is an indispensable resource for professionals seeking to excel in their field.

Principles of the APMP BOK

  • Free Access for Members: All APMP members have free access to this comprehensive resource.
  • Universal Language: The BOK creates a universal language for our profession that is not vendor or industry-specific.
  • Reflects Best Practices: Represents best practices that reflect APMP’s worldwide, multi-industry membership.
  • Continuous Improvement: Encourages member feedback to advance dynamic content and continuous improvement.

Organization of the APMP BOK

Best practices are the core of each APMP BOK topic. The topics are grouped into seven categories, representing key practice areas for enhancing an organization’s business development focus:

  1. Understand Business Development
  2. Focus on the Customer
  3. Create Deliverables
  4. Lead a Team
  5. Manage Processes
  6. Train Staff
  7. Use Tools and Systems

Each topic follows a consistent structure, including the following sections:

  • Introduction: A high-level summary explaining the topic’s importance to the proposal or business development process.
  • Best Practices: Key points that business development professionals should know about a particular topic.
  • Application in Diverse Environments: Implications of a topic in small, medium, and large settings; worldwide geographies; and across industry, commercial, and government settings.
  • Recent Trends: Emerging trends or challenges unique to this subject, including new approaches that streamline processes and improve competitiveness.
  • Common Pitfalls and Misconceptions: Highlights common traps to avoid, crucial for professionals looking to enhance their skills.
  • Quick Overview: A concise summary of the most important information presented in a topic.
  • Terms to Know: Key terms related to a topic that proposal developers should know.
  • Tools and Templates: Downloadable templates, charts, and examples for practical application.
  • See Also: Other related sections within the APMP BOK.
  • Research-based References: Sources used to compile the information.
  • Further Study: Additional resources for those interested in more in-depth information on a topic.