As defined by Wikipedia:

“Critical Success Factor (CSF) is the term for an element which is necessary for an organization or project to achieve its mission.”

We here at Diamond do not take the concept of ‘critical success factors’ lightly.  As a matter of fact, we make sure to review these with our clients at the start of every project so we’re all on the same page.

Now there are some easy, no-brainer “success factors” that come along with any project.  They are the ones listed in bright clear text, usually in a section of a contract called “Deliverables”.  Although these are obviously important, there are often other factors that can make or break a project that aren’t always spelled out so clearly.

Diamond likes to look at success factors from “within the trench”, as a team, in partnership with our clients.  As we all know, once a contract is signed by the management types, it’s up the collaborative efforts of the project team to actually deliver the goods.  And the critical success factors should speak directly to delivering these goods.

The critical success factor discussion usually starts like, “Ok, we have all signed up to build this new, really cool software widget.  How will we as a team know when we have reached success, and what or who will tell us?”

It is amazing at times what comes up.  As an example, in a recent project, the project team members on the client side brought up that this new software needs to be the easiest, most intuitive, program to use as possible, with little to no training required.  These folks knew the user community intimately; and they also knew that whole hearted acceptance and buy-in by the general user community was going to be the lynchpin of success.  So, over and above the black and white “deliverables” outlined in the contract, we as a team knew that the user interface and general usability of the system was going to influence short and long term success.  So specific ‘critical success factors’ were written as a team, and documented in the project status report which is distributed weekly.

So, to sum up…attacking ‘critical success factors’ from the trench, as a cohesive, collaborative team, will uncover aspects of the project that have not been discussed during the sales and proposal generation process.  This tactic also provides opportunity to have all project team members provide input, and in the end, results in a unified project team with mutual success at the forefront.