45 Examples of a Project Outcome

Anna Mar, November 07, 2022 updated on June 19, 2023

Project outcomes are measurable or observable end results of a project. This can include business outcomes, community outcomes and knowledge capture. Project outcomes are often beyond your direct control and shouldn't be confused with project outputs that you directly deliver. For example, you can create a product as an output but can't directly control market outcomes for the product such as revenue. The following are common examples of a project outcome.

Attitude Changes	Behavior Changes
Brand Image	Brand Recognition
Business Competencies - things a business can do	Competencies - things a person can do
Cost Reduction	Customer Demand
Customer Engagement	Customer Loyalty
Customer Ratings	Customer Retention
Customer Reviews	Customer Satisfaction
Data Capture / Measurement Capabilities	Efficiency Improvement
Employee Engagement	Expanded Capacity
Gross Margin	Improved Living Conditions
Improved Safety	Improved Security
Improved Working Conditions	Increased Access to Resources (e.g. making a building more accessible to people with disabilities).
Increased Transparency	Know-how - teaching people to do things
Knowledge Capture	Knowledge Transmission - transfer of knowledge to people
Market Share	Media Reception (e.g. a product that is positively reviewed)
Perception Changes	Process Efficiency
Productivity Improvement	Proved Something is Possible
Quality of Life	Reduction in Crime
Reduction of Pollution	Regulatory Compliance
Reputation	Restoration of Ecosystems
Revenue	Risk Reduction
Saving Lives	Social Conditions
Systemic Change - change to systems

Output vs Outcome

A project output is something that a project directly delivers. A project outcome is an end-result. The following are illustrative examples.

Output	Outcome
Launched a product.	Achieved revenue from product.
Built a duplex house.	Provided a home for two low income families to own.
Stress tested a material.	Determined the material has ultimate tensile strength of 3.5 Gpa.

Overview: Project Outcome
Type	Project Management
Definition	Measurable or observable end results of a project.
Related Concepts	Project Management » Project Output » Project Performance »