This study investigates the role of governance and governmentality in project and organizational success. Results from 121 responses to a worldwide survey provided for profiling of different governance and governmentality approaches at different levels of success, and quantitative investigation of the relationships between them. Results support the model of governmentality being positively related with both project level and organizational level success. Governance as structural context variable moderates this relationship. Moderation takes place at the project level through the governance mechanisms (trust and control) influencing the strength of the relationship, and at the organizational level through governance complexity, measured as the number of governance institutions involved in projects, influencing the form of the relationship. Contingency theory serves as a theoretical lens to interpret and discuss the findings, as well as theoretical and managerial implications. •Profiles for governance and governmentality at different levels of project success•Profiles for governance and governmentality at different levels of organizational success•Governmentality correlates with project and organizational success.•Governance moderates the governmentality–success relationship.