PRIORITIZING CRITERIA TO EVALUATE PROJECT SUCCESS: MODELING WITH THE ANALYTIC HIERARCHY PROCESS (AHP)

Abstract

Despite numerous attempts to systematize the evaluation of project success, the topic remains unaddressed, mainly because of the lack of appropriate models for dealing with the subjectivity associated with evaluation. This paper aims to contribute to this discussion by proposing a model for determining the relative importance of the criteria based on a multi-criteria technique (AHP). A core feature of the AHP is determining the relative weights of the criteria, considering the subjectivity associated with the problem. The proposed model was applied to a set of data collected through structured interviews from a sample of 54 respondents consisting of managers and project professionals in a given organization. The criteria with the highest priorities were ‘learning opportunities’ (20.4%), ‘scope’ (15.8%) and ‘innovation’ (14.1%). Unexpectedly, the criteria ‘cost’, ‘schedule’, and ‘scope’, although widely used in evaluating success, did not rank as most important. This proposed prioritization can be useful to top management when making decisions about the application of resources that contribute to the success of the projects in the organization, as well as to guide project managers as they decide what actions are necessary to address the most relevant aspects in the context of the organization.