^ [[2.1 About Projects]] # 2.1.3  Project outputs, outcomes, benefits Although project teams tend to focus their efforts on producing deliverables, it should be remembered that project deliverables are merely a means to an end. ==The real purpose of a project is to achieve given outcomes that will yield measurable benefits==. Therefore, it is important for everyone involved in managing and executing a project (managers and team members) to **understand the relationship between project outputs, outcomes and benefits.** They must be able to identify the outputs, outcomes and benefits of their projects. Without this understanding, the project participants can lose sight of the project’s original purpose and produce deliverables, which are of little (or no) value to the organisation. Thus: - Project **outputs** (deliverables) are **products/services**, which introduce something new (a change). - The change results in an **outcome**. - The **benefits are the measurable improvements** resulting from this outcome. ![[Fig 2.3 Project outputs, outcomes and benefits.png]] *Notes*: - Project outcomes and benefits are **often realised only after the project has closed**. - The term 'Impact' is also used to describe Benefits. The table below illustrates this with a simple example: ![[Table 2.1.3 - Example of outputs, outcomes and benefits.png]] ___ Spanish Guide: [[2.1.3 Entregables, Resultados y Beneficios del Proyecto]] <-- [[2.1.2 Why we do projects?]] --> [[2.2 About Project Management]]