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.
Some point shared on quality are to be agreed with while some are meant to be disagreed.
1. Quality shouldn’t be focused on internally but externally as well because people tend to see the outer part of a product first before the inside.
2. Quality problems are not meant to be hidden from neither the customer nor the managers to avoid causing any prolong issue or deep damage. Feedback are meant to be given from time to time to know where they lag behind.
3. Quality problems should be discussed openly amongst team so as to seek others opinions on where and how to be better and improvement needed to be made.
I quite agree with most of the thoughts on quality except no 6.Concealing quality from customers and managers imply compromise along the project lines.
I consent to most of these statements given about quality
1. Quality should prioritize the customer’s needs.
I totally agree with this our customer’s satisfaction is the main target of the project
2. Quality is an internal focus. Our projects should define us not only internally but as well as externally
3. Quality should be considered from the project’s inception.
Yes absolutely, quality should be involved in our plans from the onset, this makes the job easier for every member of the team and also prevent any unnecessary hassle
4. The execution phase of a project is crucial for achieving quality goals.
The execution phase is very crucial because in my opinion it is a reference point to check the perfection of the project, it is more like a testing phases for the project
5. Quality issues should be openly discussed to identify corrective actions.
This is where feedback is majorly needed, this is a stage where we get feedback and cross reference our project the advantage of this phase is to pin out or point out any error that might have been missed
6. Quality problems should be concealed from customers and possibly managers. The concealment is just another word for deceit which is a bridge breaker within a project manager and the stakeholders (client) so I believe transparency is paramount to a project managers portfolio
7. Individuals are enthusiastic about producing high-quality outcomes. Yes I agree to that because there is pride in a job well done
Team members do not produce quality outputs without close supervision. A good team member do not necessarily need supervision to be able to produce good quality & deliverables,
Conclusively, I see quality as a pivot in the plan if we are going to deliver anything good at all and at as such should be involved at the inception of the plan making.
For me, quality starts with the customer, if their needs aren’t met, the project can’t be considered successful. I think it should be built into the project from the very beginning, not left as an afterthought. While the execution phase is important, I see quality as something that runs through every stage, from planning to delivery. I also believe issues should be discussed openly, because honesty creates space for improvement. In my experience, most team members want to do great work, but what they really need is clarity, support, and a shared vision rather than constant supervision.
– Winifred Onyembi
I agree that quality should always be focused on the customer’s needs, because projects only succeed if they deliver real value to the end user. I also believe quality must be considered right from the start of a project, not just during delivery, building it in early prevents costly mistakes later. Open discussion of quality issues is critical; hiding them only creates bigger problems, while transparency allows the team to find solutions. I’ve also found that most people genuinely want to produce quality outputs, especially if they feel ownership and pride in the work. However, I don’t fully agree that close supervision is always necessary, what’s more effective is clear standards, trust, and accountability, which usually drive better quality than micromanagement.
– Winifred Onyembi
Looking at the different statements about quality, a few of them really stand out to me based on my own understanding and experience.
I strongly agree that quality should prioritize the customer’s needs. At the end of the day, if what we produce doesn’t meet the expectations of those who will use it, then no matter how much effort we put in, it hasn’t truly achieved its purpose.
I also believe that quality should be considered from the very beginning of a project. If it’s left until later stages, it becomes more difficult, costly, and sometimes impossible to fix. Building quality into the project plan from the start saves time and prevents unnecessary rework.
In addition, I support the idea that the execution phase is crucial for achieving quality goals. This is the stage where planning is tested, and if the team is not committed to maintaining standards, the output can easily fall short.
Another point I agree with is that quality issues should be openly discussed. Hiding problems only makes them worse in the long run. Transparency helps the team identify corrective actions and learn from mistakes, which ultimately strengthens the project.
On the other hand, I disagree with the statements that quality is only an internal focus and that quality problems should be concealed. In my view, quality is not just about internal standards but about delivering real value to the customer. Concealing problems may protect an image temporarily, but it damages trust in the long run.
Finally, I believe that individuals are naturally enthusiastic about producing high-quality outcomes if they feel motivated, valued, and supported. However, saying that team members do not produce quality without close supervision doesn’t align with my experience. Good leadership and a shared sense of ownership usually drive quality better than constant micromanagement.
Overall, I see quality as something that requires early attention, open communication, and a strong focus on the customer’s needs.
Quality should prioritize the customer’s needs.
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.
I agree with these:
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.
Individuals are enthusiastic about producing high-quality outcomes.
I agree with these;
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.
I agree with the following:
1. Quality should prioritize 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. Quality issues should be openly discussed to identify corrective actions.
5. Team members do not produce quality outputs without close supervision.