What Are Outputs in Project or Product Development?
Outputs are the measurable results of inputs, such as features, products, or services that can be delivered and used by users. They show what has been built or produced.
Contrary to popular belief, outputs are not outcomes.
Metaphor
Outputs in project development are like receipts from a grocery run, they show exactly what was bought and bagged, but not whether dinner will actually taste good.
In the same way, outputs capture what’s been delivered—features, products, or services—without yet proving they create real value for users.
Works Consulted
In addition to any sources cited above, the following works informed my thinking:(1)
1.
Tien KD. Input, Output and Outcome [Internet]. scrum.org; 2019 [cited 2025 Aug 26]. Available from: https://www.scrum.org/resources/blog/input-output-and-outcome