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.
Picking all 8 statements one after the other;
1. Often, the time and cost constraints placed by the customer may not encourage the quality of the deliverables, thus it is pertinent that the Project manager can advise the customer on the outcome of such constraints.
2. A Project manager who doesn’t have a quality mindset ingrained in him would be unable to deliver a quality project to the client.
3. For the project deliverables to pass the quality criteria, checks and conditions should be decided at the project planning stage to ensure that the predetermined quality standard is attained.
4. After all conditions for attaining quality have been decided, if they are not followed up during the project execution phase, the predetermined quality standard will not be attained.
5. Due to the uncertainty that bedevils projects in reality, applicable quality standards need to be openly discussed among the members of the project team and the stakeholders so as to ensure that deviations can be corrected.
6. All problems relating to quality should be passed across to everybody involved in a project. Hiding such issues, especially from the management will lead to a false impression that all is well even when in reality, the reverse is the case.
7. Not all individuals are enthusiastic about producing high-quality outcomes in the sense that some may have a lackadaisical demeanor toward the project for several reasons.
8. Teams made up of quality-minded individuals would more often than not produce quality output.
Quality should focus on customer ‘s needs fit for purpose.It should also give satisfaction to the customer ,and value for the costs.
Every customer deserves to get the value of their time and money. So i totally agree that quality should priortize the customer’s needs. The quality of the kind of project you want to deliver should be considered and discussed from the inception of the project this will enable everyone involved in the project to have an undersdanding of the goal of the project and to deliver the exact quality the client or customer desires.
Every individual is enthusiastic about producing high-quality outcomes. People are always excited when at the end their outcome or output is praised and loved
Personally I strongly agree that giving the customer value for his time and money is what quality should be(fit for purpose) so I say
Quality should prioritize the customer’s needs. and as well Quality should be considered from the project’s inception.
to conclude it, ensuring quality from the outset helps to streamline the project process, minimize errors, and deliver results that truly meet the project’s goals. This approach is key to the long-term success of any project.
Quality is essential for both internal and external success. We must prioritize customer needs and ensure high-quality outputs. Internal focus on quality processes and close team supervision is crucial for achieving this.
I strongly believe that quality should be considered from the beginning of the project. This approach allows us to set clear standards and expectations early on, aligning the project objectives with the stakeholders’ needs. By building quality into the planning phase, we can prevent costly rework, reduce risks, and enhance overall project efficiency.
Quality is not something that can be inspected in at the end; it must be woven into every stage of the project lifecycle. Starting with quality in mind means focusing on details like defining clear deliverables, ensuring proper resource allocation, and setting up strong communication channels. It also encourages a proactive mindset, where potential issues are identified and addressed before they become critical problems.
Moreover, when quality is prioritized from the beginning, it fosters a culture of accountability among the team members. Everyone understands the importance of their contributions and strives to meet the required standards, leading to better outcomes and higher customer satisfaction.
In summary, ensuring quality from the outset helps to streamline the project process, minimize errors, and deliver results that truly meet the project’s goals. This approach is key to the long-term success of any project.
Quality should be focused on customers need, it should be considered from the very beginning of the project. The execution phase of the project is the critical to achieve quality targets. I’ve come to realize that unless supervised most team members do not produce quality outputs, although they are enthusiastic about quality
Ogoke Nwachukwu Felicia O cohort 18 Team 7
Quality should be considered from the inception of the project. The needs of the customers should be considered, being that they are expecting quality deliverables. And to achieve quality deliverable the team members should be supervised closely
Quality should be a main priority to the team members.
Njoku, Chidinma Ebunoluwa
Cohort 19, Team 7
Before starting a production, the quality of the product should be a priority. If there is a problem while producing, the managers should be involved in other for them to come up with a solution immediately.
Also tam members do not produce quality outputs without close supervision of a manager because some of them bought low quality products.