Public project success? Measuring the nuances of success through ex post evaluation

Public projects are conducted on behalf of citizens and taxpayers, who may have different views of what success looks like. The authors argue that the definition of success needs to be broad and multifaceted, even more in public than private projects. A generic six-criteria model is suggested, which covers project success on three analytical levels, from various valuation perspectives, and intended and unintended impacts alike. The model is used to evaluate 34 projects some years into their operational phases. The findings suggest that public projects are often more successful than people think. For example, cost performance is largely acceptable, contrary to the impression presented by the media and some academic studies. We also demonstrate how projects can be successful in some respects yet unsuccessful in others. We argue that the media, the most important source of information for members of the public, has a narrow definition of success and is negatively biased. It seems that ex post evaluation applying a standardized and multifaceted framework, provides a good basis for learning and improvement, to enhance the success of future projects on all levels.