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The definition of success??????

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Nouman Rahim Mining Engineer| Qadir and Co, Kohat Cement Factory Peshawar, Pakistan, Pakistan
The definition of success:
with reference to the research paper of Shokri-Ghasabeh, M., & Kavoousi-Chabok, K. (2009). Generic project success and project management success criteria and factors: Literature review and survey (Doctoral dissertation, World Scientific and Engineering Academy and Society), Some researchers such as Dvir et al. believe that a project is deemed successful when it meets budget and schedule constraints even though it may not have met factors such as customer needs or achieved a quality commercialization process of the final product. while other researchers may concluded their definition on the satisfaction of stakeholders.

Time, Cost , Scope and Quality are the most important factors of success. The stake holders of the project may an internal or an external. If we consider the first definition of success; then we can say with research based study that all projects are success; if completed in an estimated time and cost. When an external stakeholders are satisfied than being a very flexible critique should need to ignore it, but they must recognized through research those all factors caused late delivery and budgets over estimation of the projects.

Based on the second definition concept concluded by researchers that if the target, goals , objective of the project achieved in allocated time, funds and the stakeholders of the project are satisfied from the projects results will be considered as a successful project.

Here if we discussed the definition of success on its comparison with Metro Projects Lahore Pakistan, Qaid-A-Aazam Solar Plant, Nelum Jehlam Hydroproject, Nandi Pur Thermal project and many others the definition of the success become more difficult to define. Why? The answer of the question is present in both definition of the success.

1. For Metro Bus project: Time, quality and cost are enlisted in the success criteria of the project. If the project completed on it approved budget, estimated time and maintained quality of management and delivery will be defined the success of the projects. So based on the above criteria we can easily analyzed the success projects. But the aim of the project was also to generate revenue for the local government. Here is the one confusion regarding the definition of success that Metro Buses Launched at a cost of Rs 30 billion for a 27- kilometer -long route is causing a daily loss of approximately Rs5 million to the government (http://tribune.com.pk/story/780840/metro-b...y-as-subsidy/).

The locals of the city get benefits from the modern transport system but in the other side; loss on daily bases to the nation economy can defend the definition of Success?

2. Qaid-A-Aazam Solar Plant: The project comprises 400,000 solar panels and was built for a cost of about $131 million. According to the Punjab government's claim, the QASPP will produces 100 MW from the plant and 1,000 MW by the end of 2016. They delivered it in the allocated time and budget lets supposed!! But the quality of the project failed and unable to generate an electricity of 100 MW in 2015 and has no chance to achieved the target by the end of 2016. So if the goal of the project is not meet with the target can we say its Successful project. Now the Govt is going to privatized it.


3. Nandipur Power Plant executed for the purpose of electricity production, the budgets exceeded, time cross the boundary and finally it delivered to generated the targeted electricity but failed. Let for a moment please forget about the failure term. The project delivered on time, an estimated budgets with good quality and succeeded to generate the desired target. But Instead of revenue generation the Govt will give millions to the plant to generate an electricity because the plant is unable to generate the electricity as estimated and the price of Furnace Oil price. Now the definition of success with reference to the first paragraph regarding stakeholder satisfaction?

4. Nelum Jehlam Hydro project: Time and Cost of the project exceeded to much. Time exceeded up to few years and still under construction and Billions are still needed to complete it. Based on the first success definition the project will be counted in Failure??

However the result of the project will be very fruitful and will generate more than 700 MW electricity. Lets pray that it will generate electricity without govt subsidy. In future it will decreased the load shading ratio in the country.It will play vital role in the production of electricity to the national grad.Definitely it will earned and will increased the treasury of the govt. Now to whom definition i connect it of Success?

Also another question is that if the same project can be completed in five years and in allocated fund why the govt, project direct stakeholders, contractors, companies failed in its delivery on time?

There are many others such projects executed and delivered for different purpose may achieved the goals or failed.

Any how based on the above project definition can i say that the above projects are successful? Stakeholder satisfaction?

Regard
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Sergio Luis Conte Helping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based Organizations Buenos Aires, Argentina
Thank you for sharing. Inside what you state there is two factors that project managers (sorry about I am generalizing) usually do not take into account and because of that projects are considering "not successful" while it is not true. In other side, I have discussed it in multiple forums including PMI´s forums. In this paragraph is the key:"Based on the second definition concept concluded by researchers that if the target, goals , objective of the project achieved in allocated time, funds and the stakeholders of the project are satisfied from the projects results will be considered as a successful project. ". Project success must not be defined by metrics that are linked to the project results unless they are related to quality. Things like "we will growth 5% in the current year" considered as project success metric are totally wrong.
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1 reply by Nouman Rahim
Apr 02, 2016 6:52 AM
Nouman Rahim
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Sir!
If we consider it success project so how can we safe these projects from political parties criticizing it for the political scoring or for some thing else?
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Nouman Rahim Mining Engineer| Qadir and Co, Kohat Cement Factory Peshawar, Pakistan, Pakistan
Apr 01, 2016 8:45 AM
Replying to Sergio Luis Conte
...
Thank you for sharing. Inside what you state there is two factors that project managers (sorry about I am generalizing) usually do not take into account and because of that projects are considering "not successful" while it is not true. In other side, I have discussed it in multiple forums including PMI´s forums. In this paragraph is the key:"Based on the second definition concept concluded by researchers that if the target, goals , objective of the project achieved in allocated time, funds and the stakeholders of the project are satisfied from the projects results will be considered as a successful project. ". Project success must not be defined by metrics that are linked to the project results unless they are related to quality. Things like "we will growth 5% in the current year" considered as project success metric are totally wrong.
Sir!
If we consider it success project so how can we safe these projects from political parties criticizing it for the political scoring or for some thing else?
avatar
Sergio Luis Conte Helping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based Organizations Buenos Aires, Argentina
Nouman, is the above a question for me? If yes then sorry but I did not understand.

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