Are periodic progress reports considered deliverables in a project?

Periodic progress reports are typically not considered deliverables in the traditional sense because deliverables refer to tangible or consumable outputs produced as a result of project activities. Deliverables can include products, services, or documents developed during the project lifecycle that contribute towards the end goals of the project.

While progress reports provide important information about the status of the project, they serve more as a tool for communication and tracking rather than as a final output or goal of the project. Their primary purpose is to inform stakeholders about progress, risks, and issues that may impact the project, thus acting as a management tool rather than a finished deliverable.

In many project management frameworks, deliverables are explicitly defined as items that meet specific acceptance criteria for completion. Progress reports do not necessarily meet these criteria since they do not provide a product or service; instead, they provide insights into how the project is progressing.

Therefore, categorizing periodic progress reports as deliverables could lead to misunderstandings about project outputs and what constitutes a successful project completion.