Here are the characteristics of a successful projects:
- Delivered as promised with all the stated deliverables
- Completed on time within the approved schedule
- Completed within budget
- Deliverables met all functional, performance, and quality specifications
- Achieves the original purpose, that is, goals, objectives, and purpose
- Meets all stakeholder expectations
Here are some characteristics of troubled projects:
- Project not aligned with organizational goals or other projects
- Lack of management support evidenced by:
- Insufficient funding
- Insufficient resources
- Unresolved issues
- Lack of stakeholder buy-in
- Roles and responsibilities are not clear
- Poor, inconsistent, or incomplete communications
- Resource conflicts
- Between team members
- Key resources not available when scheduled
- Lack of leadership by the project manager
- The project manager is inexperienced, untrained, or ineffective