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 agree with the statements in its entirety
Quality should be focused on the customer’s needs.
Quality is focused internally.
Quality should be considered from the beginning of the project.
The execution phase of a project is the most critical to achieve quality targets.
Quality issues should be discussed openly to find corrective actions.
Quality is a fundamental dimension of project scope however it’s also considered a vital tool to rate a project manager. The following are my thoughts on Quality:
1. Quality should be focused on the customer’s needs. – Agree: Quality should be customer-centered, as meeting or exceeding customer expectations is crucial for sustained success. Understanding and meeting customer needs is essential in delivering a high-quality product or service.
2. Quality should be focused internally. – yes: Quality should solely be an internal focus. While internal processes and standards are important, the ultimate measure of quality lies in meeting or exceeding customer expectations and requirements.
3. Quality should be considered from the beginning of the project. – Agree: Quality considerations should be integrated from the project’s inception. Planning and designing with quality in mind help prevent issues that may arise later and ensure that expectations are met throughout the project lifecycle.
4. The execution phase of a project is the most critical to achieve quality targets. – Not necessarily: While the execution phase is critical, quality should be a continuous focus throughout all project phases. Planning, design, implementation, and monitoring all contribute to achieving quality targets.
5. Quality issues should be discussed openly to find corrective actions. – Agree: Open discussion of quality issues enables identification, analysis, and resolution of problems. Addressing issues transparently facilitates learning, improvement, and preventive actions.
6. Quality problems should be hidden from customers and possibly also managers. – Disagree: Hiding quality problems is not a sustainable practice. Open communication and transparency with customers and managers are essential for building trust, addressing concerns, and finding effective solutions.
For quality is the highest degree of a product or service that the absolute expectations of clients or beneficiaries.
Therefore, I think that:
Quality should be focused on the customer’s needs.
I Agree: Quality should align with meeting customer expectations and requirements. Delivering a product or service that satisfies the customer’s needs is a fundamental aspect of quality management.
Quality is focused internally.
I Disagree: Quality should not be an internally isolated concept. While internal processes and standards contribute to quality, the ultimate measure of quality is how well it meets external customer needs and expectations.
Quality should be considered from the beginning of the project.
I Agree: Quality is most effectively achieved when it’s integrated into the project from the outset. Addressing quality considerations early prevents issues from arising later in the project lifecycle.
The execution phase of a project is the most critical to achieve quality targets.
I Partially Agree: While the execution phase is crucial for implementing quality plans, addressing quality concerns in all project phases is essential. Waiting until the execution phase may lead to costly corrections if issues are identified late.
Quality issues should be discussed openly to find corrective actions.
I Agree: Open communication about quality issues is vital for identifying root causes and implementing corrective actions. Transparency facilitates learning and continuous improvement.
Quality problems should be hidden from customers and possibly also managers.
I Disagree: Hiding quality problems is not a sound practice. Transparency builds trust with both customers and managers. Addressing issues openly shows accountability and commitment to improvement.
People are keen on producing quality outputs.
Varies: People’s inclination toward producing quality outputs can vary based on factors like motivation, training, organizational culture, and job satisfaction.
Team members do not produce quality outputs without close supervision.
I Disagree: While supervision can provide guidance and support, fostering a culture of individual responsibility and empowerment is crucial for team members to take ownership of producing quality outputs.
Quality should be focused on the customer’s needs:- Quality should be tailored on the demand and quality required by the customers who are the used of the products.
Quality is focused internally:- The focused should be both internally and externally. By the team managing the product and other beneficiaries.
Quality should be considered from the beginning of the project:- Quality should be planned and put into consideration at the beginning of the product in terms of cost, materials used, Labour, cost and time.
The execution phase of a project is the most critical to achieve quality targets:-Yes, execution stage is key in the sense that that process will bring out the output and quality planned.
Quality issues should be discussed openly to find corrective actions:- Quality issues should be discussed openly to allow inputs for correction for final output as required in the quality plan.
Quality problems should be hidden from customers and possibly also managers:- Quality problems need to be handled by all stakeholders or beneficiaries but can be control and managed by the product managers.
People are keen on producing quality outputs: – Agreed.
Team members do not produce quality outputs without close supervision:- Not necessarily. When there is a quality and product plan. The team can still work according to the stated plan without close supervision.
Quality should prioritize the customer’s needs.
I agree with this because customers needs and satisfaction should be the utmost focus when executing such projects
Quality is an internal focus.
For me, I think it should be both internal and external focused.
Both party should be carried along. The feedback gotten from the external factors which are the users and client would determine the quality of the output.
Quality should be considered from the project’s inception.
100% agree with this, it should be considered from the beginning
The execution phase of a project is crucial for achieving quality goals.
Project execution is crucial for delivering a high-quality project goals that meets budget and timeline objectives while meeting the immediate needs of stakeholders and providing long-term benefits to an organization’s reputation.
Quality issues should be openly discussed to identify corrective actions.
This should be done amongst the team members so as to Define the Problem, Establish the Scope of the Problem, Take Containment Actions, Find the Root Cause of the Problem, Plan Corrective Actions to Fix the Root Cause, Implement the Corrective Action Plan.
Quality problems should be concealed from customers and possibly managers.
Quality problem should be resolved by the team members before delivering it out to the customers. In the case of quality problems after being executed and delivered to the customers, it is expected to have a good and efficient customer service that could deal and handle customer’s issues and problems.
But In the case of managers, I don’t believe it shouldn’t be concealed as they are part of the team force in executing a task , so when quality problems arises they should be informed.
Individuals are enthusiastic about producing high-quality outcomes
Well it differs and its dependent on the nature of the task or project at hand. A Project with the right number of resources both funding and skill set could increase the enthusiasm among individuals on a team.
Team members do not produce quality outputs without close supervision.
I do not agree
As a project manager I agree to below:
1. Quality should prioritize the customer’s needs.
-: Customer expectation is to have work done perfectly beyond his/her expectations hence quality should be adhered to.
2. Quality is an internal focus.
As a PM should emphasis on quality and assign one quality personnel to oversee quality and raise any quality issues internal before it’s captured by customer if there’s any.
3. Quality should be considered from the project’s inception.
-: Yes quality is key and the starting point should be a bench mark for the entire project.
4. The execution phase of a project is crucial for achieving quality goals.
-: This is where as the project manager need to play a key role by visiting site/project and stipulate all key points on quality together with the quality personnel.
-: Any challenge anticipated should be captured prior to be discussed and conclusion on the way forward be demonstrated to the teams.
5. Quality issues should be openly discussed to identify corrective actions.
6. Individuals are enthusiastic about producing high-quality outcomes.
-: Diverse team might have different backgrounds on quality and where a quality manager play a key role and unifying factor on what’s to be considered.
7. Team members do not produce quality outputs without close supervision.
-: Supersion for the team is vital as this closes the gap in communication and feedback from both the management and engineering team’s. Any quality issues can also be captured on time incase it arises.
Cohort _9,Team6_Keneth Juma Walumoli
1. Quality should be prioritize the customers need…
I totally agree to this because the outcome of the project surely matters
2. Quality is an internal focus..
I think quality should focus both internally and externally .. The output quality is required
3. Quality should be considered from the project’s inception
Yes, quality is to be considered right from the beginning
4. The execution phase of a project is crucial for achieving quality goals.
Yes, I agree
5. Quality issues should be openly discussed to identify corrective actions.
Yes, it suld be discussed to determine the flaws , improvements and corrections to make
6. Quality problems should be concealed from customers and possibly managers.
It should be concealed from the customers and not the managers
The managers surely will partake in the decision making of the quality
7. Individuals are enthusiastic about producing high-quality outcomes.
A project with the right resources increases enthusiasm
8 ..Team members do not produce quality outputs without close supervision.
Agree completely with this
I definitely agree that;
> 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.
> Quality problems should not be concealed from customers and possibly managers
I totally disagree with number 6 and partially disagree with number 8
* I totally agree that quality should be discussed at the beginning of every project in line with the aim and objectives of the project
*If a product or service doesn’t meet the end users need it is said to not be of quality…So the customers needs need to be prioritized
Joel Nnamani.
Cohort 9, Team 5.
I agree with all the statement except the one that says that team members do not produce quality output without close monitoring. A team can produce a superb output without being monitored closely.
Quality is very important and can not be over emphasized. It should focus on the customers especially but in general it should focus on all the stakeholders.
Even the public need to see your products to have great quality in other to earn their respect.
Quality products are means of advertisement.
Team 8, Cohort 9
My views on the following statements about quality:
1. Quality should prioritize the customer’s needs. ____ this should be in line with the agreed scope as the needs my change, bringing about a scope creep
2. Quality is an internal focus—– majorly an internal focus, but does not exclude the external totally, because certain externalities also affect quality
3. Quality should be considered from the project’s inception._____ absolutely true
4. The execution phase of a project is crucial for achieving quality goals.____ absolutely true
5. Quality issues should be openly discussed to identify corrective actions.____ yes, especially with the project team
6. Quality problems should be concealed from customers and possibly managers.____ N, open communication is key, in line with the agreed communication plan for each stakeholder
7. Individuals are enthusiastic about producing high-quality outcomes.____ Yes!
8. Team members do not produce quality outputs without close supervision.____ this is not totally true, if the team is highly specialised and well informed from inception.
I beleive Quality to me is satisfying customers need at any point in time. It maybe difficult to achieve 100% since needs differ and one product can never satisfy different customers equally.
However quality must be well defined at the start of the project and all team members must indicate full understanding of what is required.
Quality should also be focused internally because it’s like a great covering on the company. It can go a long way to determine how long a company lasts in business.
I also believe people ae keen on producing quality outputs, and team members can produce quality without close supervision if they were carried along from the start.
I strongly agree that quality issues should be openly discussed to identify corrective actions. To avoid loosing customers and ruin the business reputation, it is important immediately openly discuss it and the managers should be made aware. By so doing, they can decide on the best action for the products with defect. It could be, to sell them on discount or to not sell at all, and the customers who purchase the products should be informed about the quality issue. So, quality problems should not be concealed from customers and possibly managers.