Methods for measuring project management effectiveness: overview and classification of approaches

Abstract

The study aims to identify existing methods for measuring project management effectiveness and to propose a new set of measures and indicators designed to address identified gaps in current academic and professional practice. A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted using explicit inclusion and exclusion criteria. The review synthesises diverse global approaches across various sectors and contexts to provide a comprehensive overview of how effectiveness is currently evaluated. The findings emphasise a notable absence of integrated analytical methods that concurrently examine organisational, technical, and human-resource factors. To mitigate this, the study proposes a framework of seven indicators, five original and two adapted, focused on organisational capacity, offering a more holistic way to measure. As this study is based on a systematic literature review, the proposed indicators require further empirical validation in specific industrial contexts. However, the research provides a theoretical foundation for more nuanced, multi-criteria analysis of project management. As this study is based on a systematic literature review, the proposed indicators require further empirical validation in specific industrial contexts. However, the research provides a theoretical foundation for more nuanced, multi-criteria analysis of project management.