Project evaluation
Project evaluation is the systematic assessment of a project's performance, outcomes, and impact against defined criteria, typically including measures of time, cost, quality, stakeholder satisfaction, and goal achievement (Kerzner H. 2017, p.312)[1]. The IT system implementation finished. Was it successful? The team delivered on time and under budget—but users hate the interface and adoption is 30% of target. The project met traditional metrics while failing its actual purpose. This tension—between narrow success criteria and true project value—lies at the heart of project evaluation.
Since the 1950s, the "iron triangle" of time, cost, and specification dominated success measurement. Delivered on schedule? Within budget? Meeting specifications? Check all three, and the project succeeded. But this view proved incomplete. Projects that met all traditional criteria still failed in practice; others that overran budgets delivered transformative value. Modern evaluation frameworks expand beyond the triple constraint to include strategic impact, stakeholder satisfaction, and long-term benefits.
Evaluation criteria
What to measure:
Traditional criteria
Time performance. Did the project complete on schedule?[2]
Cost performance. Did spending remain within budget?
Quality/specification. Did deliverables meet defined requirements?
Extended criteria
Stakeholder satisfaction. Are customers, users, and sponsors satisfied with outcomes?[3]
Strategic alignment. Did the project contribute to organizational objectives?
Benefit realization. Were the intended benefits actually achieved?
Sustainability. Can outcomes be maintained over time?
Learning. What knowledge was gained for future projects?
Evaluation methods
How to assess:
Quantitative methods
Earned value analysis. Compares planned versus actual cost and schedule performance[4].
KPI measurement. Tracking key performance indicators against targets.
Cost-benefit analysis. Comparing project costs to realized benefits.
ROI calculation. Return on investment based on measurable outcomes.
Qualitative methods
Stakeholder surveys. Gathering perceptions of satisfaction and value.
Lessons learned reviews. Structured reflection on what worked and what didn't[5].
Expert assessment. Professional judgment on project quality and outcomes.
Timing of evaluation
When to evaluate:
During execution. Ongoing monitoring enables course correction before problems compound.
At completion. Post-implementation review assesses immediate outcomes[6].
After benefits period. Later evaluation determines whether intended benefits materialized.
Critical success factors
Research identifies factors that predict success:
Clear objectives. Well-defined goals that stakeholders understand and agree upon.
Senior management support. Executive commitment and involvement[7].
Effective communication. Regular, transparent information sharing with stakeholders.
Technical capability. Team skills matched to project demands.
User involvement. Engaging end users throughout the project lifecycle.
Challenges
Evaluation faces difficulties:
Subjectivity. Different stakeholders define success differently.
Attribution. Separating project effects from other factors[8].
Timing. Benefits often materialize long after project completion.
Context dependence. Success criteria appropriate for one project may not fit another.
| Project evaluation — recommended articles |
| Project management — Performance measurement — Cost-benefit analysis — Program evaluation |
References
- Kerzner H. (2017), Project Management: A Systems Approach, 12th Edition, Wiley.
- PMI (2021), A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, 7th Edition.
- Turner J.R. (2014), The Handbook of Project-Based Management, 4th Edition, McGraw-Hill.
- APM (2024), Project Evaluation.
Footnotes
- ↑ Kerzner H. (2017), Project Management, p.312
- ↑ PMI (2021), PMBOK Guide, pp.45-62
- ↑ Turner J.R. (2014), Handbook of Project-Based Management, pp.178-192
- ↑ APM (2024), Project Evaluation
- ↑ Kerzner H. (2017), Project Management, pp.345-362
- ↑ PMI (2021), PMBOK Guide, pp.234-248
- ↑ Turner J.R. (2014), Handbook of Project-Based Management, pp.312-328
- ↑ APM (2024), Project Evaluation
Author: Sławomir Wawak