Defining IT project success

It's time to define IT project success in clear, operational terms. Building on this post, here are four criteria for defining a successful IT project:

1. The finished software meets planned scope and specifications, with a reasonable level of quality
2. The project is completed more or less on time and within budget
3. The software solves the business problem for which it was intended
4. Users adopt the software according to plan

These criteria capture dimensions related to project management, business fit, and usability. Notice that technology is not included as a factor, since this definition assumes technology is the support vehicle for delivering the all-important business benefits.

Please leave lots of comments with your opinions on this definition of IT project success. I suspect this set of criteria will be controversial, but we need a starting point.