Defining What Needs to Be Delivered, How, and to What Quality Standards**

Once the “why” is clear, the next step is understanding what must be done. Project requirements and deliverables define the scope of work, set quality expectations, and serve as the basis for success measurement.

Requirements detail what the product, system, or service must do. These can include:

• Functional needs (e.g., user login, payment processing)

• Non-functional needs (e.g., performance, security, compliance)

Requirements should be:

• Specific

• Measurable

• Testable

• Agreed upon by stakeholders

Deliverables are the tangible outcomes the project must produce—documents, software, infrastructure, or services. Each deliverable should have clearly defined acceptance criteria to ensure it meets the desired quality and functionality.

Documenting these requirements early allows for better planning, risk reduction, and smoother collaboration between teams.