Why do projects go wrong #7
No agreed success criteria.
Do you know what success looks like? Do all other members of the project team agree with you? Time and again projects go wrong because there were no agreed success criteria, so that at the end of a project arguments ensue over whether success has been achieved or not. When there is no common agreement for what for what constitutes success in your project, the inevitable consequence is doubt as to whether success has been achieved.
Depending on personal motive, some might claim your project failed, whilst you and others might consider otherwise. Any project completion celebration will be marred by this uncertainty.
So what to do?
Make sure that, not only do you clearly define the purpose of the project , but align to that purpose agreed success criteria, and write it down. This should be done in the earliest stages of the project, in the project initiation documents, and refined and reaffirmed at each project stage gate review.
As well as agreeing common success criteria, you should also agree how the output from the project will be objectively tested to verify that the criteria are met, so there is no doubt that your project is successful, and any celebration you hold is genuine and appreciated by all.
How do you ensure your projects are always a success?
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Other posts in this series
- Why do projects go wrong #1 - misunderstanding of what a project is
- Why do projects go wrong #2 - no common understanding of purpose
- Why do projects go wrong #3 - lack of leadership
- Why do projects go wrong #4 - inappropriate transfer of risk
- Why do projects go wrong #5 - scope creep
- Why do projects go wrong #6 - overly optimistic budgets
