Success criteria should be established at which stage of a project?

Establishing success criteria at the start of the project is crucial as it sets clear expectations for what constitutes project success for all stakeholders involved. This practice not only helps in aligning the project goals with stakeholder needs but also provides measurable indicators that can be tracked throughout the project lifecycle. By identifying success criteria early, project managers can make informed decisions, prioritize tasks, allocate resources effectively, and monitor progress against those criteria. This proactive approach minimizes misunderstandings later in the project and ensures that everyone is working toward the same objectives from the very beginning.

Setting success criteria only during execution or at project completion would not provide the necessary framework to guide the project team's efforts along the way. Likewise, restricting this process to stakeholder meetings would limit the opportunity for comprehensive definition and agreement on what success looks like, which is essential for project planning and execution.