Defining Clear Deliverables

Vague proposals sink. Concrete ones float.

Deliverable vs Vague

Vague	Concrete	Why Better
"Improve performance"	"Reduce API latency by 30% for 90th percentile"	Measurable
"Add features"	"Implement caching layer for user queries"	Specific
"Fix bugs"	"Fix N+1 queries in post listing (issue #123)"	Testable
"Better docs"	"Write 5 guides covering [specific areas]"	Completable
"Optimize"	"Reduce bundle size from 450KB to 300KB"	Verifiable

Why Specificity Matters

Vague deliverables lead to:
- Maintainers unsure if you're done
- You unsure if you're done
- Misaligned expectations
- Wasted time arguing over completion

Concrete deliverables mean:
- Clear definition of success
- Easy to verify
- Easy to test
- Unambiguous completion

The Milestone Breakdown

Each major deliverable should have:

Concrete Description
- What exactly will exist when done?
Acceptance Criteria
- How do you measure success?
Dependencies
- What needs to be done first?
Testing
- How will you verify it works?

Example Structure

## Deliverable 1: Caching Layer
 
### Description
Implement Redis-based caching for user profile queries, 
reducing database load and API response times.
 
### Acceptance Criteria
- [ ] Redis integration working
- [ ] Cache invalidation on user updates
- [ ] 30% latency reduction in benchmarks
- [ ] Tests covering cache edge cases
 
### Timeline
Weeks 1-3
 
### Dependencies
Redis setup in test environment

"We'll figure it out as we go" is not a deliverable. Be specific.

Researching Solutions Creating a Timeline