Project Management

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Difference between Outcomes and Deliverables

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Serges-Roberteau Tchoffo Geomatician| Freelance Consultant Yaoundé, Centre, Cameroon
According to your own experience in project management, what is the key difference between the Outcomes and Deliverables of a project (with examples please)?

Thank you in advance for your answer!
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Rajesh Padmanabhan Sammamish, Wa, United States
When you are sick and visit a doctor.
Deliverables : a prescription, diagnosis, treatment plan.
Outcome: You getting better and back to normal (what ever normal is).
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deepak snraj India
Deliverable are what you can measure. An outcome is qualitative.
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1 reply by Stéphane Parent
Dec 06, 2022 11:52 AM
Stéphane Parent
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My short-, mid- and long-term outcomes from my last project were all measurable. Some required survey data but they were all measurable. I had baseline and target values for each outcome.
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Stéphane Parent Self Employed / Semi-retired| Leader Maker Prince Edward Island, Canada
Dec 06, 2022 9:51 AM
Replying to deepak snraj
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Deliverable are what you can measure. An outcome is qualitative.
My short-, mid- and long-term outcomes from my last project were all measurable. Some required survey data but they were all measurable. I had baseline and target values for each outcome.
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Ermias Kidanu United Kingdom
May 19, 2020 10:01 AM
Replying to Stéphane Parent
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A deliverable is something expected from your project: a four-lane highway, a new enterprise resource management system, a hospital wing.

The outcome is the benefit realized from the project deliverable: improved traffic circulation, better accounting and tracking of financial and human resources, new health care service.
I read through this thread, all give dear explanations and examples. However, the Summary of Changes in the Preface of "The Standards. . . " & PMBOK Guide 7th edition, seems to signal a major shift in PMI's thinking. It states, ". . . this edition shifts to a principles-based standard to support effective project management and to focus more on intended outcomes rather than deliverables." The consensus here seems to be the opposite, and as a newbie starting my certification journey, what should I make of this?
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Maxim Shevelev Haifa, Ta, Israel
Outcomes and deliverables are both fundamental aspects of a project, but they serve different purposes and represent different results. Here's an explanation with examples:

1. Outcomes:
Outcomes refer to the expected results or impacts that a project aims to achieve. They are typically broader in scope, strategic in nature, and address the overall goals and objectives of the project. Outcomes focus on the benefits or changes that will occur after the project is completed. These are often related to the project's influence on the organization, stakeholders, or society as a whole.

Example: Suppose a software development project aims to create an e-learning platform. The outcome of the project could be an improved educational experience through accessible and interactive online courses, leading to enhanced knowledge and improved academic performance for the users.

2. Deliverables:
Deliverables are tangible or intangible items that are produced and provided as a result of project activities. They are specific, measurable, and often related to a specific task within the project. Deliverables are meant to fulfill the requirements or expectations of stakeholders and act as building blocks towards achieving the overall project outcomes.

Example: In the e-learning platform project, some of the deliverables could include:

- Requirement specifications document
- Wireframes and prototypes of the platform's user interface
- Developed software modules
- User manuals and documentation
- Trained instructors and instructional content

Deliverables are the tangible outputs of the project that contribute to achieving the desired outcomes.

In summary, outcomes represent the broader benefits or changes while deliverables are the tangible items or products generated throughout the project lifecycle. Deliverables are instrumental in achieving the outcomes by fulfilling specific requirements and expectations.
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