21 Quality

This topic will:

1. Introduce quality and explain where it fits into project management;
2. Describe quality from the perspective of PRINCE2; and
3. Illustrate how PRINCE2’s perspective may be a little bit different to how quality is addressed in general by business (additional information that provides context).

Introduce quality and explain where it fits into project management

According to the textbook for this unit (PRINCE2 Study Guide by David Hinde), quality is synonymous with luxury. The definition given is “degree or standard of excellence, especially to a high standard.”

According to the PRINCE2 manual, “the purpose of the quality theme is to define and implement the means by which the project will create and verify products that are fit for purpose.”

The following video will give you another take on what quality is in projects.

Describe quality from the perspective of PRINCE2

The quality theme breaks concept of quality down in a fashion that is unique to PRINCE2.

PRINCE2:

1. Defines quality specifically;
2. Differentiate between quality planning and quality control as phases that occur in a project life-cycle (note: within the quality planning phase the development and structure of the quality management strategy is prescribed); and
3. Differentiate between project assurance and quality assurance.

PRINCE2’s definition of quality

In summary, quality is the combination features and characteristics of a product, person, process, service and/or system that shows that outputs meet the expectations requirements and/or specifications. It is worth noting that in this case PRINCE2 has listed a person, process, service and/or system alongside a product.

PRINCE2’s Quality Planning and Quality Control

According to the PRINCE2 manual, “quality planning is about defining products required of the project, with their respective quality criteria, quality methods (including efforts required for quality control and product acceptance) and the quality responsibilities of those involved.”

According to the PRINCE2 manual “quality control focuses on the operational techniques and activities used by those involved in the project to:

• fulfil the requirements for quality (e.g. by quality inspections or testing)
• identified ways of eliminating causes of unsatisfactory performance (e.g. by introducing process improvements as a result of lessons learned).”

In summary, quality planning is where a project manager and the project board considers organisational policies, legislation and other governing influences and designs a framework that enables quality to be managed. In the planning stage much of the consideration around quality attempts to prevent the development of any products that are not meeting quality standards rather than rectifying or minimising consequence of quality standards are not being met. Quality control on the other hand is about checking and reviewing the development of an output of products in order to ensure the quality standards are being met, and when this is not the case, undertaking a process that rectifies products so that they can meet acceptable standards.

It may appear that PRINCE2’s method is complicated, however it actually aims to enable managers to give the responsibility to individuals in the project team.

PRINCE2’s definitions of Project Assurance and Quality Assurance

According to the PRINCE2 manual, project assurance is a process whereby the project board takes on the responsibility to assure itself that the project is being conducted correctly. Project board members have specific areas of focus, namely business assurance for the executives, user assurance for the senior users, and supplier assurance for senior suppliers.

Quality assurance is an independent check that products will be fit for purpose will meet requirements.

PRINCE2’s perspective may be a little bit different – Additional Information

PRINCE2 defines, describes and frames quality in a slightly different way to how quality is addressed in most ongoing business environments.

In ongoing business environments and in some other project management methodologies, quality management relates to the implementation of quality assurance (QA) and quality control processes (QC).  The distinction between QA and QC covers everything related to quality:

1. QA includes processes design to prevent quality issues arising, and;
2. QC includes process or actions, taken when quality issues do arise.

I believe the reason PRINCE2 has added quality planning, project assurance and adjusted the definition to quality assurance slightly is to enable the delegation of responsibility to be more definitive. If you interested in the gaining clearer insights into this difference and understand what it means in practice, please contact your lecturer. Note all exam questions and assignment expectations require you to know and be able to apply quality as it is themed in PRINCE2.

PRINCE2 encourages the use of ISO Standards and the conducting of Quality Audits – Further Additional Information

There are three additional pieces of information below. They have been included to help those students who have little knowledge of what ISO and quality audits are.

Firstly, there is a video that provides information about ISO’s Quality Assurance Standards:

Secondly, there is a link to a blog that describes a methodology for bench marking quality: http://blog.readytomanage.com/quality-benchmarking/

Thirdly, there is a video that provides information about Quality Audits:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oX3TS4kotx4