Which practice best defines how to measure success in a project?

• A. Establish success metrics at kickoff, track progress, solicit stakeholder feedback, and review results.
• B. Rely on gut feel after project completion.
• C. Only measure if the project finishes on time.
• D. Ignore stakeholder input.

Answer: (A)

Measuring project success hinges on turning expectations into concrete, shared measurements and using them throughout the work. Establishing success metrics at kickoff creates a clear target that everyone understands and aims for, so there’s alignment from the start. Tracking progress against those metrics keeps the project on course, letting the team spot gaps early rather than discovering them only at the end. Soliciting stakeholder feedback ensures the metrics reflect real value for users and the business, not just what sounds good on a plan. Reviewing results afterward closes the loop, showing whether the project delivered the intended benefits and providing lessons for future efforts. The other approaches miss important pieces: relying on gut feelings lacks objectivity, measuring only on-time ignores quality and outcomes, and ignoring stakeholder input risks delivering something misaligned with needs.