What is Deliverables?

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The term "deliverables" is a project management term that's traditionally used to describe the quantifiable goods or services that must be provided upon the completion of a project. Deliverables can be tangible or intangible in nature. For example, in a project focusing on upgrading a firm's technology, a deliverable may refer to the acquisition of a dozen new computers.On the other hand, for a software project, a deliverable might allude to the implementation of a computer program aimed at improving a company's accounts receivable computational efficiency.

Definition

Deliverables is a project management term used to describe quantifiable items or services that must be provided upon the completion of a project. Deliverables can be tangible or intangible. For example, in a project focused on upgrading a company's technology, deliverables might refer to acquiring a dozen new computers. On the other hand, for a software project, deliverables might refer to implementing a computer program designed to improve the efficiency of the company's accounts receivable calculations.

Origin

The concept of deliverables originated in the field of project management and evolved with the development of project management methodologies. In the mid-20th century, as project management became a distinct discipline, the concept of deliverables was introduced to help project managers clarify project goals and outcomes.

Categories and Features

Deliverables can be categorized into tangible and intangible types. Tangible deliverables include physical products, equipment, or buildings, while intangible deliverables include software, services, or intellectual property. Each type of deliverable has its specific application scenarios and advantages. For instance, tangible deliverables are often easier to quantify and evaluate, whereas intangible deliverables may offer greater flexibility and innovation.

Case Studies

Case Study 1: In Apple's project to develop the iPhone, the final deliverable was the iPhone device itself. This tangible deliverable not only met market demand but also revolutionized the smartphone industry. Case Study 2: In Microsoft's project to develop Office 365, the deliverable was a cloud-based office software suite. This intangible deliverable provided users with flexible office solutions, significantly enhancing work efficiency.

Common Issues

Common issues investors might encounter when applying the concept of deliverables include how to accurately define and quantify deliverables and how to ensure deliverables meet project objectives. The key to solving these issues lies in clearly defining the project scope and objectives at the outset and continuously monitoring and adjusting throughout the project execution.

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