In this article I’ll explain the concept with real examples.
I want you to imagine this:
You had to manage a project where you would only tell people how they should spend their time. For example, you would ask the engineer to spend 4 hours each day doing technical drawing. And you’d tell the programmer to write code for 6 hours a day.
What would happen?
Your project would get nowhere.
Sure, your team would be busy all the time. But you would not achieve any results. And …
Without tangible results, there would be no progress.
How could you fix this?
You have to break the project down into smaller chunks. They are like sub-results or mini-goals, and officially they are called project deliverables . That’s what they are called in project management lingo. (I have a directory of common project management terms, in case there are more terms you want to clarify.)
Having such deliverables makes it possible to actually manage a project. You define clear project deliverables and assign those to your team members. They will work independently on their part, and as more and more deliverables are being completed, the project progresses towards the overall goal. Of course, it’s important to have a well-defined project goal.
One thing to note is that deliverables are dependent on each other. Here’s an example from the world of construction: You can only built a house after the drawings have been done and approved by the customer. Both, the finished house and the drawings are project deliverables.
Because they matter so much, make sure to document deliverables in the project charter.
Here’s a list of typical types of deliverables:
These are just the forms in which project deliverables can occur. Scroll down to find real examples of deliverables.
Also, be aware that some deliverables are common for every project, such as:
The best way to understand project deliverables is through examples. Here are some examples from various areas.
I’ve selected examples from the real world. These will make the concept more clear to you.
You may want to ask me a question specific to your project. Or maybe you want to clarify your understanding of the concept of deliverables. Just send me a message and I’ll give you my feedback.
Good luck with your project!
Hi! I’m Adrian, founder of Tactical Project Manager and a Project Manager with over ten years of experience. Managed large-scale IT implementations and business projects. I started Tactical Project Manager to offer you a straightforward and pragmatic approach to project management, enabling you to lead any project with confidence. View all posts
