How do you determine key metrics for non-traditional project success

Question

How do you measure success for projects that don’t have clear numbers or usual benchmarks? Not every project is measured by revenue or deadlines, so I’m curious how others figure out if a project is actually making an impact? What methods or indicators do you use to track progress and see if it's working?

Answer 1

To evaluate success in unusual projects, the evaluator should go beyond metrics to include things like impact, engagement, and tangible outcomes. Here are some ways to measure progress:

1. Establish Clear Goals – Even if they are not numerical, such as building an improved UX, including achieving awareness, or driving engagement.
2. Feedback – Obtaining feedback in the form of surveys or user reviews should not be disregarded. Direct feedback from the clients or stakeholders may serve.
3. Monitor Engagement and Adoption – Evaluate participation, repeat use, or how widespread adoption happens.
4. Qualitative Measures of Impact – Examples like case studies, quotes, or a success story can serve as a litmus test for measuring real-world effectiveness.
5. Before & After Comparison – When empirical data indicates positive results, trendline analyses that compare the situation before and after changes are made can show that the project led to some tangible benefits.
6. Adapt Along The Way – If the original goals are not perfect, base your success criteria on those that truly fuel results.

Success is not about numbers but whether the project does what it was actually designed to do.