What is a Deliverable in Project Management: Types & Examples

In project management, deliverables are anything that is produced as a byproduct ( tangible or intangible outputs) of project activities. They are the final outputs or outcomes that stakeholders look for after the project ends. Project success relies on clearly knowing what are project deliverables are, because they outline the scope, quality, and goals of the initiative. Project Management Institute (PMI)

A deliverable refers to the result you produce in a project, such as a document, product, or finished milestone. In project management, project deliverables refer to what you give as a result to clients or stakeholders when a project is finished.

Unlike tasks, which refer to things you have to do(basically actions you perform), deliverables are the actual materials or work that result from them, for example, a website design or a report.

Well-defined deliverables, in my view, lead to greater understanding and higher client satisfaction in managing projects.

A deliverable in project management example: Project success in management could rely heavily on something like a complete training guide, making it one of the key deliverables.

Being aware of the types of project deliverables is key for proper planning, successful execution, and good communication with stakeholders. Project deliverables can change according to industries, goals, and scope, but they all demonstrate the main tangible or intangible outcomes that determine the project’s success.

These are the primary types of deliverables in project management:

1. Internal Deliverables

They are outputs designed for the company’s inner workings, for instance, team reports, risk assessments, or materials for training internally. Even if they don’t go to the client, they help make sure the project continues to move forward in the right direction.

Some common internal project deliverables examples are:

• Weekly progress reports
• Internal QA documentation
• Meeting summaries

Project deliverables templates commonly have these listed, particularly in large projects that rely heavily on team coordination within the company.

2. External Deliverables

Project teams give external deliverables to anyone outside the project’s core group, like clients or stakeholders. Since these are what clients most expect, it is very important to set them clearly at the project’s end.

A deliverable in project management example here might include:

• A completed mobile app
• A marketing campaign package
• A final client report

If you want to understand how to define project deliverables. A good first step is identifying what your stakeholders want and the basis for their evaluation of it.

3. Tangible Deliverables

They can include hardware, paper documents, or output from construction, which are physical and measurable. Progress can be shown clearly with tangible deliverables, which are typically present in formal reports.

Project deliverable samples in this category:

• Completed construction of a site
• Delivered hardware components
• Printed manuals or blueprints

4. Intangible Deliverables

Not all deliverables have to be physical. Sometimes the most crucial deliverables in project management can’t be touched; they are intangible — these project deliverables examples include software code, process updates and performance checks.

Normally, a project deliverables template is used to keep these types of deliverables documented and tracked to make sure there is clarity and accountability.

For those studying for the PMP exam, PMP training classes can help you master concepts like deliverables with practical examples.

What makes deliverables so important? In my view, project deliverables in project management demonstrate the progress of a project and these are used by clients and stakeholders to judge how you have performed. Having clear deliverables unites teamwork, outlines responsibilities, and encourages responsibility.

A project deliverables example, like a delivered project such as a completed website wireframe, proves the worth(tangible) of the project. Understanding how to define project deliverables means everyone is clear about what needs to happen to call the project a success.

If project deliverables are not defined, projects can easily turn into a mess. Working with a project deliverables template ensures the steps are the same each time, which cuts down on mistakes and saves time.

PMOs take project deliverables in project management very seriously, since tracking them allows them to measure the organization's success. Sharing a stakeholder-agreed plan with a project deliverable sample can either strengthen or undermine the project’s reputation.

Sticking to the plan depends on tracking deliverables. Let me explain my basic method for handling project deliverables, especially in project management:

1. Define Clearly: Fill in a template by noting both the expected deliverables, criteria, and the due date for each.
2. Assign Owners: Each deliverable in the project management example should have a person responsible for it.
3. Monitor Progress: Review deliverables regularly and use software to notice any problems in your task planning as soon as possible. 
4. Update Stakeholders: Let Stakeholders know how the project deliverables are coming along using the examples of project deliverables.

Using a progress report as a sample makes sure everyone is updated on where the project stands. Understanding project deliverables effectively makes it clear that what the project will deliver is a key requirement, and a project deliverables template helps to do so efficiently.

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To give you an idea, I can mention some actual project deliverable samples and examples of project deliverables.

Construction: A deliverable project management example in software includes a coded module and a user manual.

Marketing:  Marketing project deliverables could involve developing a campaign strategy or creating social media content.

Types differ depending on the industry, but the common rule is always to define project deliverables to be specific, detailed, and measurable.

Using the project deliverables template allowed me to organize all deliverables for the website launch and make sure it launched on time.

Deliverables are important for different project domains because they lead to the desired outcomes.

Use PMP formulas to quantify deliverable outcomes, especially in cost and schedule-related deliverables.

These examples demonstrate that deliverables help achieve project outcomes across domains and industries.

Having suitable tools simplifies the task of managing deliverables.

I count on Asana for tracking project deliverables in PM. It dynamically displays project deliverables.

Using Trello, you can easily organize your work in a project, and for more involved projects, Microsoft Project is a better choice.

Project management becomes easier with Trello’s boards, and Microsoft Project is ideal for working on complex projects.

PMOs can use Smartsheet to gather all the deliverables in one place to centralise project deliverables across project portfolios.

A Gantt chart on Monday.com lets project leaders show the project timetable clearly.

Master visual tools like the control chart PMP to analyse performance trends.

Knowing how to use these deliverables tools makes it easier to make and track a list of project deliverables while ensuring success.

A well-designed tracking system or a sample, like a milestone report, can be effectively handled by using the right type of project deliverables tracking system.