Mapping the dimensions of project success

Project success is probably the most frequently discussed topic in the field of project management, yet it is the least agreed upon. Various measures have been offered to express the success of a project-most common among them are meeting schedule, budget, and performance goals. Different people, however, assess the success of projects in different ways, and at different times. Previous studies have suggested applying multidimensional frameworks to assess project success. Using a similar approach and based on data collected from 127 projects, this paper proposes a multidimensional universal framework to assess project success. We show that project success could be assessed along at least four distinct dimensions: project efficiency, impact on the customer, direct and business success, and preparing for the future. The exact content of each dimension and its relative importance may change with time and is contingent on the specific stakeholder. Our mapping provides a basis for additional investigation and for further refinement of individual success measures for specific types of projects.