Defining Project Success Criteria
In project management, project success criteria are the specific standards or benchmarks used to determine whether a project has achieved its intended goals. They provide measurable guidelines that define what “success” means for a particular initiative. While many people assume success is simply about finishing on time and within budget, true success goes beyond those basic metrics.
Expanding Beyond Time and Cost
Modern projects require broader evaluation. Delivering on time and within budget is important, but if the deliverable does not meet quality expectations or solve the intended business problem, stakeholders may still view the project as a failure. Success criteria also encompass customer satisfaction, product usability, compliance with regulations, and long-term business impact.
Why It Matters
Without success criteria, project teams may lose direction or deliver outputs that do not satisfy stakeholders. By establishing these criteria at the outset, project managers ensure alignment, accountability, and measurable performance indicators. This makes post-project evaluation much clearer and ensures that both the process and outcomes contribute to organizational success.
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