What is the difference between a milestone and a deliverable?

A milestone is a critical point or event in the project timeline that signifies an important achievement or the completion of a major phase. It acts as a marker that helps to track progress, ensuring that the project is on schedule. Milestones do not necessarily have a tangible outcome associated with them; rather, they are often used to highlight the completion of necessary phases or significant events that have occurred.

In contrast, a deliverable is a specific output or result that is produced as part of the project. Deliverables can be tangible products, services, or results that meet the project's requirements and objectives and are typically assessed to determine project success.

Understanding this distinction is essential for project management because milestones help in measuring progress, while deliverables represent the actual outputs that contribute to project goals. This differentiation aids project managers in planning, scheduling, and managing resources effectively, ensuring that both the project timeline and the quality of outputs are maintained.