Various definitions of the concept of quality have been put forward.
One generic definition (Pass, 2006b) is as follows:
The overall characteristics of a product or service that fulfill the requirements of customers in terms of quality.
This definition aligns with the viewpoint of Joseph Juran, who, in the 1950s, defined quality as ‘fitness for use’ (as quoted in ASQ, 2019).
This definition is largely consistent with the definition of quality provided by APM (2019, p. 214):
The suitability for the intended purpose and the degree to which the output of a process or the process itself conforms to the requirements.
Now take a moment to consider the following statements about quality. Which ones do you agree with?
- Quality should prioritize the customer’s needs.
- Quality is an internal focus.
- Quality should be considered from the project’s inception.
- The execution phase of a project is crucial for achieving quality goals.
- Quality issues should be openly discussed to identify corrective actions.
- Quality problems should be concealed from customers and possibly managers.
- Individuals are enthusiastic about producing high-quality outcomes.
- Team members do not produce quality outputs without close supervision.
Share your thoughts on these statements in the discussion section below.
I am representing a Project Manager and i will take the following as the best definition of quality
1. Quality should prioritise the customer’s needs.
2. Quality should be considered from the project’s inception.
3. The execution phase of a project is crucial for achieving quality goals.
4. Team members do not produce quality outputs without close supervision
As a project manager, I agree with the following definitions of quality:
1. Quality should prioritise the customer’s needs.
2. Quality is an internal focus.
3. Quality should be considered from the project’s inception.
4. The execution phase of a project is crucial for achieving quality goals.
5. Quality issues should be openly discussed to identify corrective actions.
Quality is the fitness for purpose or the degree of conformance of the outputs of a process or the process itself to requirements.
So as a project manager I agree that:
1. Quality should prioritize the customer’s needs.
2. Quality is an internal focus.
3. Quality should be considered from the project’s inception.
4. The execution phase of a project is crucial for achieving quality goal.
5. Quality issues should be openly discussed to identify corrective actions.
6. Individuals are enthusiastic about producing high-quality outcomes.
Quality: meets requirements and exceeds customer expectations, quality is a general term applicable to any trait or generic.
I also disagree to this
1. Quality problems being concealed from customers and possibly managers.
2. Team members do not produce quality outputs without close supervision.
I totally agree with all statements and mostly with the quality issues to be openly discussed to identify corrective actions, Control the cost of a project, Establish standards to aim for and Determine steps to achieve standards.
I agree that quality should focused internally and it is important to consider quality from the beginning of the project.
Conducting internal quality control is very important in producing quality outputs (results). Internal quality control should be done everyday before conducting any test (laboratory practice). This helps to ensure we are producing an accurate and reliable results. In my profession we believe that quality should be considered at the beginning of every project, every product must undergo the 12 quality management essentials and must be tested to ensure the meet up to standards. If quality is not considered, it can lead to wastage of resources, time and poor results.
Quality should be considered from the inception of the project so as to meet customer needs. Time and cost are used to achieve the quality of the project; therefore quality is fitness for use.
All definitions are correct.
The most important aspect of a project is the quality of that project. Therefore in every project, quality should be the first priority to make the project attractive to customers. Quality is an important factor for consideration in any project inception.
For me quality should be based on the consumer needs and should also be considered from the beginning of the project 7
I agree with all the definitions of quality because quality should be considered from the inception of the project.
Joseph Turan’s defination of Quality sticks the right cord with me. Quality is simply fitness for use. If its not fit it cannot be quality.
Quality should prioritize the customer’s needs. The customer should the determinant of quality. it goes to say that if the customer is not satisfied then quality has not been achieved.
Quality is an internal focus.. The organisation must first focus on quality internally before delivering products to the customer who determines whether indeed quality was attained
Quality should be considered from the project’s inception. Just as the focus must be first internal from ception
The execution phase of a project is crucial for achieving quality goals. It’s like the waterfall appraoch, get it wrong from the beginning the entire project will fall apart in quality.