Case study
Sydney Opera House
Managed badly, outcome huge
What happened
The project was budgeted at A$7 million and four years. It took 14 years and cost A$102 million, and it is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Why it matters
Project management success and outcome success are separate. Value may arrive long after cost and date are forgotten, though this doesn’t excuse the overrun: the same result earlier and cheaper would have been worth more.
Lessons
- Judge both delivery and value.
- Remember that a late, costly project isn’t proof of a good one.
Tools for this
Sources
- PMBOK® Guide, 8th edition: The Standard, p. 17
Last reviewed 2026-11-02. “Why it matters” is our reading of the sources.