Deliverables and Scope are two terms you will hear frequently when dealing with so-called consulting firms, and probably not at all when dealing with small firms or individuals.

You should know the difference between the terms, and why SCOPE, more than anything, will determine what you end up paying.

Deliverable
A deliverable is the final product ... what is finished when the project is done (or at the end of each pre-defined phase of the project). It is what you think you are paying for.

A deliverable should have a clearly defined, realistic time limit and description

• You determine the final deliverable
    - "We want a website" is too vague.
    - List in detail what you want the finished website to have or do
      (not how it is done, but what)
  
  
• The person/company doing the work determines the phases of the project, and the deliverables at the end of each phase
  
  
• The scope of the work will be a joint decision between you and the Designer/Developer

Scope
Scope is a term used to describe exactly what the job entails ... all the work to accomplish the project goals and tasks including:

• definition of the project
• A chronological description of the work to be accomplished
• end product results along with quality standards
• which processes are included/excluded from the project
• budetary and time constraints
• required resources
• cost schedule
• deliverable schedule
• who will manage the project
• who will approve /accept the deliverables

As WEB projects progress, especially through development, requirements continuously change incrementally, causing the user or developer to add to the project mission or objectives, i.e. with more work involved, and consequent increases in the time and budget required.

The, vague "we want a website" project, will quickly turn into a runaway project ... grossly over budget and with no end in sight, unless the scope is tightly managed. Breaking down deliverables in to smaller manageable parts, ensures better control.

The best way to avoid the runaway project is to write down what you consider to be the perfect website. List everything you would like your web site to offer, without regard to resources, time, or cost.

Once you have the perfect website designed, it can be broken down into phases stretched out many over months. Remember that a website is (or should be) a constantly environment, just like your brick and mortar business. Your plan should allow for changes without forcing a complete revision of the entire site.