WHAT IS DELIVERABLE?

What is Deliverable?

A deliverable is defined as any work product — tangible or intangible — that is produced or provided as part of a project. It represents the commitment of an organization or project team to fulfill a requirement for its stakeholders or customers while adhering to specified quality standards and timelines. Deliverables can include a wide array of outputs such as documents, reports, system implementations, diagrams, software applications, or any other strategic outcome.

Deliverables are typically documented in a project plan alongside timelines, budgets, resource requirements, and quality standards. They are often referred to as milestones, marking significant points of progress within a structured timeline for project completion.

"Defining deliverables clearly is pivotal to achieving project goals and ensuring stakeholder satisfaction."

Importance of Deliverables in Various Industries

Deliverables play a crucial role in the success of projects across multiple industries, serving different purposes based on the context. In the engineering and construction sector, deliverables help contractors and stakeholders track project progress, define the project scope, and adhere to budget and timeline constraints effectively. Similarly, in healthcare, deliverables serve as evidence that projects were executed to high standards, enabling professionals to provide optimal patient care and ensure safety.

Role of Deliverables in Project Management

In the realm of project management, a deliverable is a mandatory output that must be completed and delivered for a project to be deemed successful. This can encompass various forms such as documents, reports, systems, applications, or other strategic achievements. Documented within the project plan, deliverables are accompanied by their corresponding timelines, budgets, resource needs, and quality benchmarks.

Deliverables are essential as they provide stakeholders with visibility into project progress and offer project managers a reliable means to track and measure performance. The successful completion of deliverables is fundamental not only for meeting project objectives but also for demonstrating an organization’s capability to fulfill its commitments.

FAQs

How is a deliverable different from a task or an activity?

A deliverable refers to the end product or service of a project, while tasks or activities represent the procedures or actions taken to achieve that deliverable. For instance, developing a new customer review system would be considered a deliverable, while the coding and testing required to implement that system are classified as tasks.

How do you ensure the quality of a deliverable?

To ensure a deliverable's quality, the project team must establish clear quality standards, often found in the business requirements document. They should continuously measure and monitor adherence to these standards through quality assurance processes before delivering the product.

How do you handle changes to deliverables during a project?

Changes to deliverables require careful management and must be documented and approved by relevant stakeholders. Tracking these changes is essential to maintain alignment with the project's scope, timeline, and budget.

Tip: Clearly defining project deliverables is crucial for meeting project goals and satisfying stakeholders.