Which project stakeholder is responsible for defining the success criteria of a project?

The project sponsor is responsible for defining the success criteria of a project. This role involves providing guidance and support to the project team while ensuring that the project aligns with the overall strategic goals of the organization. The project sponsor typically has a broader perspective on what constitutes success for the project, often encompassing factors such as return on investment, alignment with business objectives, and stakeholder satisfaction.

By establishing the success criteria, the project sponsor ensures that all team members understand what is expected in terms of outcomes, deliverables, and performance metrics. This definition sets the foundation upon which project performance can be measured and evaluated, ultimately guiding the project's direction and decision-making process.

Other stakeholders, such as the project manager, technical architect, and business analyst, play significant roles in execution, design, and requirements gathering. However, they typically rely on the project sponsor’s vision to develop their strategies and outputs effectively. The project manager translates these criteria into actionable plans, the technical architect focuses on the technical execution while adhering to those criteria, and the business analyst ensures that requirements align with the defined success measures, but it’s the project sponsor who establishes the initial success framework.