Making the deadlines and finishing a project do not make it a success.

The biggest criticism against project managers claiming to have delivered successful projects is probably that the organisation is left with nothing.

The level of success

The level of success can only be determined after the project team is dissolved. Can the organisation owning the results or living with the changes you made, achieve the goals that where set in the business case?

I'm of the opinion that if there is no acceptance of the end result or if the changes you put an organisation through do not result in a benefit which outlasts the project team, you have failed.

I frequently monitor the results of my past projects.

Examples of successful projects

A few examples of projects I consider to be successful

European Debating Championships

In 1998 we decided it was time to revive the European Debating Championships. Not only did we manage to organise a successful tournament, these days there is even a cap on the number of teams that can participate.

Volvo Truck Corporation

After finishing this project, I encountered the end results in many different situations. There was even a company which provided the solution to other companies.
I consider this a big success. The history shows we handed over the result of the project in a way which allowed for implementation in the organisation in a broader sense. It also allowed for adapting for other means. The fact that the solution was also applicable to other organisations and sold widely outside of Volvo proves we also achieved acceptance.

These are just two of the projects I consider a success. I can look back on a list of projects which are a success in a similar way.

How to achieve success

The way to this kind of success starts at the beginning of the project; enthuse all the stakeholders, involve the members of the standing organisation, document the project but the most important step is making yourself expendable.

Making yourself expendable is one of the hardest things to do. You constantly need to be aware that the project should be able to progress, even when you are in a plane crash. If you can go on a two week holiday without the project coming to a screeching halt, without your mobile phone, you might be on the way towards success.