quality management strategy

 

The problem with the word quality is that it is used everywhere and ceases to have any real value.  This is a danger when it comes to projects, as the last thing we want is when at the end of the project we seek acceptance from the customer, and an argument commences about what quality really is and what their expectations were.

 

It is far better to have these discussions at the very beginning of the project, so that expectations can be agreed and customer quality satisfaction assured.  

 

Put simply, a key success factor of any project is that it delivers what the user expects and finds acceptable.  The purpose of the Quality Management Strategy is to ensure such agreements are captured and maintained throughout the project.

 

PRINCE2 develops a set of key management products that ensures that the project is on a consistent pathway to quality.

 

As part of the Project Brief, the Project Product Description was created in the Starting Up a Project process.  It is now reviewed again to check that the customer’s quality expectations and acceptance criteria are sufficiently defined.  

 

Of equal importance is that any corporate or programme management strategies, standards or practices relating to quality management replied by this project.

 

Don’t forget to ensure that both the customer and supply-side involved in determining what these are, and how they should be applied to this project.

 

Any lessons from previous similar projects should be captured and used to help define the Quality Management Strategy.  In a similar way, the risk and issue registers should be checked for any risks and issues associated with quality management.

 

The Quality Management Strategy should include the following key information:

 

Any special quality management procedure to be followed

 

Any records that will be checked including tools and techniques to be used

 

How reporting on the quality management procedure performance will occur

 

The roles and responsibilities for quality management activities, including linkages if required, to corporate or programme quality assurance functions.

 

The Quality Management Strategy needs to be reviewed by Project Assurance.

 

The Quality Register for this project must now be created.  Once the second Stage Plan has been created, this register can be populated with the planned dates for quality management activities of the stage.  During the second stage, as quality management activities take place, the actual dates can be added.  

 

In this way the quality register is used as a management tool to ensure that the pre-requisite quality of the projects products and that the management of the project is being undertaken in a quality manner.

 

Any new risks or issues related to quality management should be captured and appropriate responses and actions taken.  The project board may review the Quality Management Strategy document at this point or when reviewing and approving the Project Initiation Documentation.

 

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