What is a deliverable?
A deliverable is a defined, measurable good or service that a project must produce and hand over when a project (or a project phase) finishes. Deliverables can be physical items (tangible) or non‑physical outputs (intangible), and they are usually specified in contracts or project documents so all parties know what will be provided, when, and under what conditions.
Key terms (defined)
– Deliverable: A specific output a project will produce (e.g., a new office, a software module, or a training course).
– Milestone: A scheduled checkpoint or interim goal during a project; it can correspond to part of a deliverable, payment, or a status report.
– Statement of Work (SOW): A formal document that lays out scope, deliverables, timeline, responsibilities, and acceptance criteria.
– Internal deliverable (project deliverable): An in‑house output used to advance the project but not delivered to the customer.
– External deliverable (product deliverable): The final item or service provided to the customer or end user.
How deliverables are used
– Contractual commitments: In many projects the deliverables, delivery dates, formats, and payment terms are written into contracts or an SOW.
– Project structure: Deliverables define the work that must be done and are mapped across project phases (initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, closing).
– Acceptance and payment: Deliverables often include acceptance criteria (how the buyer will verify quality) and trigger payments or sign‑offs.
– Milestones: Large projects break final deliverables into milestone deliverables or progress reports to monitor progress and manage risk.
Types of deliverables
– Tangible: Physical items such as hardware, a finished building, printed materials. Example: 12 new computers.
– Intangible: Services, software, training programs, reports, or implemented processes. Example: a deployed accounts‑receivable application.
– Internal vs. external: Internal deliverables support the project team (e.g., design documents). External deliverables are what the client or public receives (e.g., the launched website).
Special case — film production
Film projects have detailed deliverable lists for audio, visual, and legal materials. Examples include sound mixes (stereo, 5.1), the movie in a specified file format, licensing agreements, talent releases, trailer files, and publicity stills. Producers should request the distributor’s deliverable list early so materials can be prepared on schedule.
Requirements for good deliverables
A well‑specified deliverable should include:
– Clear description of what will be produced.
– Measurable acceptance criteria (quality checks, formats).
– Assigned owner (who delivers it).
– Delivery date or milestone.
– Dependencies (what must happen first).
– Documentation to accompany it (manuals, licenses, test reports).
– Payment terms or sign‑off procedures when relevant.
How to describe a deliverable (practical checklist)
1. Name the deliverable (short, unambiguous title).
2. Describe content and format (what exactly will be delivered and in what file/physical format).
3. State acceptance criteria (how the receiver will judge it acceptable).
4. Assign owner(s) and reviewers.