What are project deliverables? Definition & examples
Summary
Every project has a goal. Whether you’re updating your website or tackling something big, you and your team are working toward a result. Success means having something to show for your efforts, such as a new product, an ebook, or improved customer satisfaction.
That result is called a deliverable. When you know what your deliverables are and share them clearly with your team and stakeholders, you’re more likely to reach your project goals. This article will show you how to identify, set, and achieve your project deliverables.
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What are project deliverables?
Project deliverables are the tangible or intangible outputs your team produces by the end of a project. Defining them upfront helps your team focus on the work that matters most.
Common examples of project deliverables include:
A new product or feature update
A marketing campaign or sales deck
A decrease in customer churn
An increase in NPS score
Types of project deliverables
Deliverables come in many forms, and each plays a role in advancing your project. Here are the main types:
Internal deliverables
Internal deliverables help the project team manage the work. A typical example is a project plan or status report shared between team members.
External deliverables
External project deliverables are the final outputs delivered to clients or external stakeholders. Think of things like a marketing campaign or a new product launch. Using a structured client onboarding process template ensures every new client experience is consistent, professional, and aligned with expectations.
Process deliverables
Process deliverables are tools or documents your team creates while working on the project. For example, a prototype or a testing report is a process deliverable.
Product deliverables
Product deliverables are the goods or services your project produces. These could be a software app, a training manual, or a finished product.
Tangible deliverables
Tangible deliverables are things you can touch or measure, like equipment, hardware, or printed documents.
Intangible deliverables
Intangible deliverables are non-physical outcomes. Examples include a business process, a workflow update, or an improved service capability.
Digital deliverables
Digital deliverables are technology-based results made or delivered online. These often include software apps, websites, or digital prototypes.
Project deliverables vs. project milestones
People often mix up project deliverables and project milestones, but they are not the same thing.
Project Deliverables | Project Milestones |
Tangible or intangible outputs your team produces | Checkpoints that mark progress along the way |
Something you hand off or ship | A moment that signals you're on track |
Example: Completing a website redesign | Example: Getting stakeholder sign-off on wireframes |
Both are important for keeping your project organized. Milestones show your progress, while deliverables are the end results you’re working to achieve.
Why deliverables matter in project management
When you define deliverables early, your team has a clear goal and can stay on track. Here’s why deliverables are important:
Improved focus: When everyone knows what they're working toward, it's easier to stay focused and measure progress.
Clearer communication: Instead of vague updates, you can point to specific outputs that have been completed or are in progress.
Scope creep prevention: Well-defined deliverables help you evaluate whether new requests fit within the original scope or require a change to the scope management plan.
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How to identify project deliverables
Some teams start working without a clear plan. For example, a marketing team once launched a campaign before deciding what “done” meant. They missed deadlines and had to redo much of their work. Taking time to get specific at the start can save trouble later.
1. Define your project scope
Before anything else, make sure the project scope is defined. This outlines what's included and what's not, and sets boundaries that help avoid scope creep. It gives your project team a shared understanding of what needs to happen and what success looks like.
2. Start with your project objectives
Review the project objectives in your project plan or project charter. These goals shape your deliverables and help align your team's work with the project goals and stakeholder expectations.
Read: How to write an effective project objective, with examples3. Break down the work
Create a work breakdown structure (WBS) to break down large goals into smaller, manageable pieces. This gives you a clear view of the work and shows how each task connects to a larger project milestone or final product.
Read: How to set, achieve, and celebrate project milestones4. Identify specific deliverables
Review your tasks and ask, “Will we hand this off or deliver it?” If so, it’s likely a key deliverable. This could be something physical, like a report, or something less visible, like a new process.
5. Involve key stakeholders
Share your draft list with key stakeholders early on. Their input helps shape the project requirements and prevents surprises later. Getting on the same page now reduces the chance of rework or missed dependencies down the road.
6. Look at internal and external deliverables
Look for both internal deliverables, such as status reports and project schedules, and external deliverables, such as finished software and client presentations. Each type helps you track project progress in a different way.
7. Map deliverables to key performance indicators (KPIs)
Make sure your deliverables tie back to key performance indicators (KPIs). If a deliverable helps track or move a KPI, it's likely core to the project's success and should be monitored alongside other success metrics.
Try Asana for project managementExamples of project deliverables
Your project deliverables should align with your goals, fit within the project scope, and be realistic given your time and resources. Clear, achievable deliverables help your team succeed. Here are some common examples.
Marketing campaign plan
Type of deliverable: External deliverable
Example external deliverable: One 60-second live-action video formatted for YouTube.
Sales Plan
Type of deliverable: Internal deliverable
Example internal deliverable: Robust sales and operations planning detailing inbound and outbound sales strategy, revenue targets, target customers, and sales tooling for FY22.
Usability testing plan
Type of deliverable: External deliverable
Example external deliverable: Complete usability testing session with at least 20 participants on August 4th.
Product marketing launch
Type of deliverable: External deliverable
Example external deliverable: Promotion of new product features via social, web, and PR as part of a successful product launch.
Company event planning
Type of deliverable: Internal deliverable
Example internal deliverable: Virtual company holiday party on December 18th.
How to manage project deliverables
Managing deliverables means keeping your team focused, sticking to a realistic timeline, and making sure everyone can see the work. Here’s how to do it well:
Use project management tools
Project management tools help you communicate, organize tasks, and meet deadlines. Many platforms offer features such as task management, automation, and app integrations to make it easier to assign work, track progress, and keep everyone informed.
Project management software improves functionality by giving your team a single place to see updates and next steps. When you're managing multiple deliverables in project management, tools like Kanban boards, Gantt charts, and calendars help you visualize workflows and spot blockers before they slow down your project timeline or throw off key milestones.
Set smart deadlines
Use project milestones to divide the work into clear project phases, then map them in a milestone chart. These checkpoints provide your team with natural pause points to review progress and adjust timelines as needed. Set smart deadlines that keep your team focused and avoid burnout.
Assign responsibilities
Make sure every task and handoff has a clear owner. When assigning work, think about each person’s workload, skills, and availability. Setting roles early helps prevent confusion and missed deliverables.
Read: How to write an effective project status reportTrack progress
Use reporting tools or simple status updates to track your project. This helps you find problems early, manage dependencies, and keep stakeholders informed. When deliverables are linked to a visible tracker, it’s easier to keep everyone aligned.
Case study: How Deputy tracks project deliverables
Deputy makes it easier for businesses to schedule staff and track hours. Companies like Amazon and Nike rely on it to manage large, distributed teams. As Deputy grew, each team used different tools to manage work, which led to silos, missed updates, and unclear project deliverables.
To fix it, they moved everyone into one platform: Asana. Now, teams across marketing, customer success, engineering, and finance use Asana to manage tasks, run campaigns, and track work in real-time. That visibility helps Deputy stay aligned, even with global teams working asynchronously.
It’s been a relief having everything in one place. Asana makes it much easier for us to ensure everyone is rowing in the same direction.”
To learn more about how the Deputy team uses Asana company-wide, read the full case study.
Stay on track with your project deliverables
Getting your project deliverables across the finish line starts with clear goals, smart planning, and the right tools. When everyone knows what they're working on, and when it's due, your team can focus, move faster, and avoid surprises.
Asana brings everything into one place so you can assign tasks, set deadlines, and manage work in real-time. Get started today and see how easy it is to keep your deliverables on track.
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