Introduction

The critical evaluation on the real-world projects represents a context that shall be common in all project forms and not linked to the size as well as complexity. Every project could be suitably be evaluated using a standard method. There can noted to be varied expectations with respect to a specific project from different personnel, akin to that of project manager who shall plan and implement the execution for delivering a project within expected schedule, budget and quality for ensuring success (Gido & Clements, 2014). Further, sponsor for a project shall expect to benefit from expected returns on the project investments and to attain the ultimate business outcomes (Gido & Clements, 2014). In this manner, this report shall present discussion on different views to evaluates and assess success or else failure of a specific project.

In this report, the primary focus shall concern the evaluation of prestigious, very costly and important infrastructure project referred as the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (“MR Int. Airport”). This was opened to public in the year 2013, and overall cost of this project was in the range of US Dollar 209 Million (Airport of SL, 2021). For building this facility, the government of Sri Lanka was required to make investments in the range of US Dollar 210 Million, and this airport was actually constructed and opened prior to the completion date scheduled and within planned budget (Airport of SL, 2021). Hence, this mega project can be termed as an evident success to overall project management/ governance team that it could ensure all three constraints in a project was adhered to and project delivered as planned. This report shall present the outcome of a study on various criteria used for evaluating the project as well as later applying these criteria for MR Int. Airport case and essentially assess the outcome of this project being a success or else failure.

Project Evaluation Criteria

The overall success or else failure pertaining to any specific project needs to be appropriately evaluated from varied perspectives, as the explicit perspectives of project manager as against the owner or else as sponsor who has contracted away the project shall always be different. The methods of conventional nature to take an assessment of project success /failure elements specific to the project shall primarily focus on the triple constraint factors (Harrison & Lock, 2017). As has been indicated in the requirements concerning triple constraints relating to a specific undertaking, a process of fundamental thought shall concern task administrator as well as the overall group required to undertake monitoring of three constraints pertaining to the specific venture, that is, quality or else extent of the scope delivery, cost required for undertaking and completing the project, and scheduled timetable for completing the project along with key milestones, and assessing whether the project has been delivered complying to all these three factors. The intermediate milestones shall be crucial in that the progress over the course of the project shall in addition be suitably measured and tracked. The said technique pretty much covers all of the relevant criteria for a project to decide on its rate of success in using the specific method of project management (Harrison & Lock, 2017). As the overall project has an foundation over the stated three pillars of scope/ quality, cost as well as time, such that in case a project adhered to and complied with the pre-planned targets for the triple constraints, in that case said project can be considered to be a success. Naturally, given the significance of these factors, project managers face critical struggle and challenges for maintaining an effective equilibrium amongst these factors (Harrison & Lock, 2017).

Project Analysis of Mattala International Airport

In assessing the extent of success pertaining to the specific project outcome, it can be evident that the planning, management and execution of the project has been completed and the project’s outcomes are operational which represents a situation optimal for undertaking the success assessment of the said project. The MR Int. Airport is located across southern region in Sri Lanka. The same was constructed for offloading increased traffic experienced in the Colombo International Airport (Airport of SL, 2021). The location of MR Int. Airport was identified for covering tourist places that are near to this location. The then serving president in Sri Lanka had planned in build this airport and then convert the region from that of a conventional rural place for becoming a modern and high-tech city (Airport of SL, 2021). The plan was not just for building an airport that is massive and equipped with advanced technologies as well as better comfort, but in addition construct strategically complementing real estate as well as cricket stadium as well.

On the basis of the background presented, the evaluation of the MR Int. Airport project is presented as follows which spans various project criteria: [1] triple constraints: in the manner specified, triple constraints with respect to the MR Int. Airport mega project has been handled in an effective manner by concerned project team with the project being completed and delivered without any schedule delays, ensuring no cost overruns, and meeting all scope/ quality specifications. Quality concerning the outcomes and deliveries from this project was in addition ensured to be as expected with the airport being suitably equipped with all of the modern comfort-day and also accommodate large comforts without compromising on the service quality. Thus, this project can be considered to be a significant form of success form the standpoint of project management point (Meredith et al., 2020), [2] commercial success: Apart from the success from the standpoint of project management, the assessment of the eventual business success is also most crucial (Alvarez-Dionisi et al., 2016). From a financial standpoint, the project inherently entails superior business case and the same can be noted to be realised the manner in which the traffic and transactions have increased. Yet, this project has caused significant strain on the local environment causing displacement of wildlife. In this context, considering all factors, the business outcome cannot be considered a complete success, and [3] economic implications: apart from the primary goal of financial success of the airport, the broader goal of MR Int. Airport was in increasing economic and business activity across the location surrounding the airport. The same has not been achieved till date and hence cannot be considered to be a success from this perspective.

Conclusion

In effect, this report establishes the basis that assessment of a project to be a success or else a failure shall be on the basis of various criteria and not just be limited to the criteria of triple constraints. As stated, triple constraints alone do not represent a project success. A project is undertaken with an immediate project goal and then the larger business outcome that needs to be realised on the basis of the project delivery. As illustrated in the case of MR Int. Airport, based on the assessments of various project criteria, this project is success from a triple constraints criteria, partial success from commercial standpoint, and a failure from the economic implications intended by the project sponsors (Sri Lankan Government) by way of establishing this project.

References

Airport of SL. (2021). Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport. Retrieved from:
https://www.airport.lk/mria/about_mria/about_mria

Alvarez-Dionisi, L. E., Turner, R., & Mittra, M. (2016). Global project management trends. International Journal of Information Technology Project Management (IJITPM), 7(3), 54-73.

Gido, J., & Clements, J. (2014). Successful project management. Cengage Learning.

Harrison, F., & Lock, D. (2017). Advanced project management: a structured approach. Routledge.

Meredith, J. R., Shafer, S. M., Mantel Jr, S. J., & Sutton, M. M. (2020). Project management in practice. John Wiley & Sons.