The Relationship between Project-Portfolio Success and multi-dimensional Business Success

This thesis investigates the relationship between subjectively measured project-portfolio success and objectively measured business success. In doing so the investigational background is initially explained, namely the determination of examined companies and the general construct of multi-project management. In approaching the issue the two kinds of success measurement utilized (subjective and objective) are discussed. Furthermore, the two main fields within this thesis are described: first, key success factors for project-portfolio success and second, the complex construct of business success. Due to the many facets of business success, this thesis also follows up with the different perspectives on business success and its measurement dimensions. In doing so, particular key figures will be discussed in more detail. While examining the issue, subjectively measured data that represent key figures for portfolio success were collected within the 5th benchmarking study at the Technical University of Berlin. Objective business success data were extracted from the companies’ annual reports between 2008 and 2010.

Although the multiple regression analysis delivers several statistically significant results, these were not sufficient to lead to a unambiguous conclusion concerning the examined relationship. Consequently, there must be additional factors that influence overall business success and the goodness of fit of the regression models used. However, following further studies and the statistically significant findings within this thesis, there is a trend which confirms the hypothesized relationship. Possible implications for companies complete this thesis.