To begin with, we need to define what the aims of these policies were. Collectivisation was arguably aiming to create a more equal society, removing kulaks from society, and providing for the growing urban population; furthermore creating self-sufficiency was key. Industrialization aimed to provide for the Soviet society, removing class enemies in the form of the petite bourgeoisie and cementing Stalin's position.
By the end of the 1930s Stalin's political and economic objectives had mainly been met in the respects of collectivisation, despite some failings Stalin's policy had been mostly successful. Stalin aimed to be able to feed a growing urban workforce with food produced in the USSR. Despite food shortages in rural areas, workers in towns and cities always had sufficient. By 1935 peasants could even sell their excess grain which eventually made up one-third of all food sold. Stalin even had excess grain to sell abroad and began to improve industry in a series of Five-Year Plans during the 1930s and move towards his own policy of "Socialism in One Country". The fact that the USSR could rapidly improve industry proves that collectivisation met Stalin's objectives by the end of the 1930s. There is some evidence to suggest that some collectives had medical facilities, educational provisions and were popular but in many areas there were shortages of supplies needed for farming (tractors and machines were often scarce).
Between 1928 and 1935 grain production increased by 1.7 million tons and in 1930 83.5 million tons of grain were produced, which was 10.2 million tons more than in 1928. However, animal stocks were completely decimated - that the number of sheep and goats fell by 94.6 million head between 1928 and 1935 - farmers often resented collectivisation and the requisition of food often meant that farmers killed their animals simply to survive. Economically, collectivisation was a success, however socially it was a disaster.
By introducing the Five Year Plans Stalin granted the government greater control over the industries of the USSR, they could set targets and control the quantity of items needed if demand rose. The Five Year Plans brought the USSR closer to achieving Stalin's policy of "Socialism in One Country" and moved the USSR closer to self-sufficiency, which was a major aim. Similarly by introducing the Five Year Plans Stalin was able to cement his position as the leader of the USSR; Stalin had used the NEP to defeat the Left, mainly Trotsky, Zinoviev and Kamenev who wished to force through the policy of rapid industrialisation, using the peasant only as needed, then later the Right, principally Bukharin who wished to continue with the NEP. By moving the USSR closer to "pure" Communism and making the country a more socialist state, the USSR became a more important economic power to the world; Stalin was able to successfully improve the Soviet economy quickly and effectively, making the Five Year Plans a great success.
Between 1928 and 1941 industry was dramatically improved, Stalin and Gosplan introduced high target which increased the level of production very quickly. In 1932 coal production was only 64 million tons per year but by 1940, only eight years later, the output had nearly trebled to 166 million tons per year, steel production increased by 2.11 million tons during the same period of time and lorry production increased from 24 thousand to 136 thousand per year. Using the Five Year Plans Stalin aimed to improve the Soviet industry 100 years in just five years at first mainly focusing on heavy industry then later consumer goods and defence.
The Five Year Plans all had slightly different focuses - they mainly focused on heavy industry and military strength, the second slowly attempted to readdress the balance between key goods and the more consumer needs. The Five Year Plan rapidly industrialised the USSR and secured their position as an economic superpower in a very short period of time, they improved their productivity dramatically, which was a major success.
Despite the apparent successes in raw output the quality of products generally decreased; skilled workers, often the most successful workers under the NEP, were deported to gulags, forced labour camps, leaving relatively unskilled workers to operate expensive machines. Unskilled workers were a major problem to factory workers, many had moved from the countryside to work in industry, they were considered clumsy and incompetent as they produced poor quality goods. Skilled workers were preferred and often managers tried to persuade these workers to work for them by offering higher wages and extra food rations. The Five Year Plans were successful in many ways however this success came at a great human price, workers were forced to work hard to meet targets, many worked long shifts then went to courses in the factories in order to get a better job. Many areas were newly built to accommodate for the expanding workforce, they were often rushed and poor quality; factory workers lived in overcrowded tower blocks, crime levels were rising and there was little, if any, State funded sanitation. The USSR took pride in completing large scale and impressive structures such as the Dnieper Dam, the Moscow Metro and the industrial centre of Magnitogorskqwhich often relied greatly on forced labour from the gulags. Individual targets were often set ridiculously high but people were to frightened to disobey the State to not meet the targets. The Five Year Plan may have strengthened the economy of the USSR but it came at a great human cost which made the Plans, overall, not completely successful.
To summarise, Stalin's policies did succeed in meeting his aims and in advancing Soviet society, improving the economy and global standing of the nation - as well as cementing his position. However, the human cost of these policies was great.
AQA History AS Unit 2 The Impact of Stalin's Leadership in the USSR: 1924-1941: The Impact of Stalin's Leadership in the USSR, 1928-1941: Student's Book (Aqa History for As)
Geoffrey Hosking - History of the Soviet Union: 1917-1991