Learn French: Le dispositif a fonctionné, de façon que le déroulement a été un succès. - The system worked, so that the proceedings were a success.

The phrase de façon que can take either the indicative or the subjunctive. You use the indicative when expressing a result, which is an outcome that actually happened. Because the success is a completed, factual event in the past, the indicative a été is required here.

How would the sentence change if we wanted to express a purpose instead of a result?

If the meaning was intended as a goal (working in order for the proceedings to be a success), you would use the subjunctive for the second verb. It would become de façon que le déroulement soit un succès.

Could I use de sorte que instead of de façon que in this sentence?

Absolutely. de sorte que and de façon que are interchangeable in this context. Both mean "so that" and both follow the exact same rule: indicative for a factual result, and subjunctive for a desired purpose.

What is the literal meaning of déroulement?

It comes from the verb dérouler, which literally means "to unroll." In everyday French, le déroulement refers to the unfolding, progress, or course of an event, which is why it translates well to "proceedings" or the way things played out.

What exactly does dispositif refer to?