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.
Quality is the level of excellence or superiority exhibited by a product, service, or outcome. It encompasses various dimensions, including meeting or surpassing customer expectations and demonstrating reliability, durability, and performance.
Therefore, I endorse that quality should be considered from the beginning of a project; that way, the project manager and the client will be able to discuss the budget in relation to quality for efficient service delivery.
I agree that Quality should be focused on the customer’s needs.
2. Quality should be considered from the beginning of the project and it should be clearly expressed to all stakeholders involved.
The execution phase of a project is a critical to achieving quality targets but I also believe the planning /research phase has a huge effect on achievements quality targets.
Quality issues should be discussed openly to find corrective actions and this should be done promptly.
I agree that quality should be “fitness for use”. It is the attributes of a product/service that meets the demand of the customers.
I also agree that:
* Quality should be considered from the beginning
*Quality should be targetted at meeting customers needs.
*The execution phase is the most critical stage at meeting customer’s need
Quality is the level of excellence or superiority exhibited by a product, service, or outcome. It encompasses various dimensions, including meeting or surpassing customer expectations, adherence to established standards or specifications, and demonstrating reliability, durability, and performance.
I agree that quality should be ‘fitness for use’ , according to Joseph Juran.
Then quality should be focused on customers needs and should be considered from the beginning of of the project.
Quality issues should be discussed openly to find corrective actions.
People are keen on producing quality outputs especially to be recognized, reconsidered and for promotion.
With right frame of mind and duty, communication and supervision team members should produce quality outputs.
Thank you.
Quality is a key component in determining the success of a project. Every organization that requires an impressive output will usually want quality but the determinant of that is how much they are willing to pay to get quality. Quality in relationship to budget must be discussed with the client before project proceeds.
Yes, quality should be focused on the customer’s needs because the output is made to serve or satisfy them,
Yes, quality should be considered from the beginning of the project, because of the time and cost implication of fixing or remedying the effect of the quality not conforming to customer’s needs.
Yes, execution phase of a project is the most critical to achieve quality target, this is the phase where the product is being worked on to meet the desired output.
Yes, quality issues should be discussed openly to find corrective action, solution and ideas should be brainstorm on and exchanged so as to meet the desired result.
Yes, team members do not produce quality output without close supervision. Quality control and monitoring unit should be created to ensure the responsibility of quality is on them.
Quality is not necessarily focused internally, agreed the processes and actions to produce quality outputs are engaged by project members within. However, to achieve quality inputs inform of feedbacks and brief is needed from clients and customers which the products or outputs is to serve.
I would defined quality as meeting the standard requirements. Quality has standards of measurement and anything shot of that is someone’s specification.
Therefore, I would agree with the 3rd statement that says quality should be considered from the inception of the project or product and service.
This brings about proper planning, organizing monitoring and control to achieve the set standards.
Quality is an internal issue and should not be discussed openly. Every company or organization have their formulas and ways of doing things.
Quality problem should not be hidden from management for they are the custodian of the processes and therefore should be informed when things go out of proportion.
Quality could be defined as fitness for use and NOT fitness for purpose.
It is vital that Quality should be focused on the customer’s needs and it can also be focused internally.
I also support that Quality should be considered from the beginning of the project as this would help guide the overall direction of the project in terms of resources put in to achieve the desired outcome of that project.
The execution phase of a project is the most critical to achieve quality targets. – it is critical but if proper planning is not put in place at the beginning, it might be difficult to achieve the right level of quality at the execution stage. The yardsticks to judge quality has to be known before-hand and that way periodic review can be carried out to see if that target of quality is being achieved as the project is being executed.
Quality issues should be discussed openly to find corrective actions. – This is important among the project teams and and on needs basis with the management team
Quality problems should be hidden from customers and possibly also managers – I do not agree with the fact that the problems should be hidden but if they can be easily dealt with and resolved in a timely manner before a review meeting with customers and/ or managers, then it might not be necessary to get them involved at that stage.
People are keen on producing quality outputs – this is true in most situations.
Team members do not produce quality outputs without close supervision. – not true in every situation. some team members are able to work independently at very high levels of efficiency.
It would not be out of place to agree that quality is important to the client and client’s satisfaction.
The client already has an idea of what quality he or she is going for and thus would be expecting nothing less.
I don’t think quality problems should he kept from the client or project team. It’s best to report it at the inception and ensure necessary corrections are made.