6.1 Monitoring Deliverables
When you measure project progress, are you only checking whether tasks are marked “done”? That alone isn't enough. The real signal is whether the deliverables are completed in a way that fulfills their intended purpose.
This section shifts the lens from task-based progress to deliverable-based progress — and shows how that shift makes management sharper.
Clarify the Definition of Done
One of the most common pitfalls in project management is the illusion of completion. To avoid it, define exactly what “done” means for each task and deliverable.
Useful criteria include:
- The deliverable meets the spec
- It has passed review or testing
- It has been shared with stakeholders and approved
- Related documentation has been updated
When the “definition of done” is explicit, it cuts misunderstandings between team members and keeps quality consistent.
Visualize Task Status in Detail
To know “where things actually stand,” you need visible status — not just a binary checkbox. Consider these states:
- To Do
- In Progress
- Waiting Review
- Done
The split that matters most is “Waiting Review” vs. “Done” — it stops the team from mistaking work-in-progress for completion.
Foster a Deliverable-Oriented Culture
What truly strengthens a project isn't the tooling — it's the culture. Push beyond “tasks completed” and instill a mindset that values the quality and impact of deliverables.
Practices that help:
- Pair every task with a clear “definition of done”
- In reviews, focus on whether the deliverable meets the requirement and serves the end user
- In regular meetings, check progress in terms of deliverables — not task checkboxes
This is how a team moves from apparent progress to real forward movement.
Summary: Progress Is Measured by Deliverables, Not Just Tasks
It's not enough to say “this is done.” Real progress means something is completed, reviewed, approved, and usable for the purpose it was created for. With a deliverables-first mindset, both quality and speed go up.
How this looks in AB
The gap between a task is closed and the deliverable is done lives in the task's progress % and status field — not just a checkbox. Subtasks roll up into the parent, so a “feature complete” status reflects what's actually finished underneath. The Calendar shows what's slipping before anyone has to write a report about it.
→ Next, let's look at how to handle change and issues: 6.2 Issue and Change Management