3 metrics to measure successful project
Not by managing it, by how it’s approach it.
Here’s the real scenario when starting a project:
- Run into problems during and post-delivery phase.
- As a project manager, you put out fires as they arise.
- More issues mean higher costs, time, and resource use.
→ In the end, you’re left with: inflated costs or failure.
The achieved outcome depends on how successful the project is “during”and “post-delivery.”
I have created indicators to measure your project’s success:
1. By the number of issues during implementation.
2. By the number of issues post-delivery.
3. By the size and magnitude of issues in any phase.
Here’s how it plays out:
If you face a lot of issues during execution, you’ll either end up with a solution that has no issues post-delivery — meaning a lot of figuring out was done during execution but at the cost of inflated time, costs, and resources — or the project will fail.
If you face many issues post-delivery, you’re likely executing the wrong solution. In this case, you’ll either need to redo the whole thing, further inflating costs, or the project will be deemed a failure.
You’re most likely biased and think, ‘We tried, but it didn’t work,’ when the hidden truth is actually:
Lack of alignment
Lack of design strategy skills
Lack of approaches and tools
Lack of identification of barriers and risks
Lack of knowledge in creative problem-solving
My advice is to create a sheet to document the issues that arise (based on phase), their type, and size. If you encounter too many issues during implementation, pause and bring in the right skills to help. Don’t move forward until you have a validated blueprint to follow.
- Revisit how you approach the first steps.
- Identify what your team lacks.
- Allocate the right talent.
- Learn new methods.
Projects are about turning your future into a “smooth present”. Once you reach what was once the future, it becomes your reality.
P.S. Do you have metrics to measure while executing the project?
Thanks for reading,
Ahmed
Neostrateje if you want to score how well you solve business problems and deliver outcomes
