Learning for PMP Professionals: Project Quality Management

A Project is said to meet Quality expectations, whenthe toys and incorporate those feedbacks in making
all the Project requirements, agreed in the beginningbetter toys. Now, you start finding parents ready to
of the Project are met and also the resulting Productbuy these toys.
of the Project is usable. Usable means, the intendedBut suppose you invest too much to make the toys
users of the Product can use the product withoutof the highest quality, the cost of the toys will also
any problem.increase accordingly… and it might become
The Project Manager is Responsible for Quality in aprohibitive for parents to buy.
Project. However, it is the responsibility of each andOptimal level of Quality is reached for this toy
everyone in the Project to ensure that whatevermanufacturer at the point, where in they get
they do meets project quality expectations.maximum number of buyers for the toys
Also, it's important to note that the quality comes atmanufactured.
a cost. The more efforts are put in ensuring Quality;Quality management aims to ensure that Project
the better is the resulting Product. But, one can'tmeets all the initial agreed requirements without any
keep on investing in increasing Quality, as there is nodeviation. To ensure this, Quality Management
limit to how better a product can be made. So, muchinvolves doing activities like creating standard policy
to invest in quality is determined by knowing theand procedures and also ensuring that those standard
optimal level of Quality.procedures are being followed properly in the project.
Optimal level of Quality is supposed to be achievedThere are three broad activities that are done as
when at the point where the incremental revenuepart of Quality Management. They are Quality
from improvement equals the incremental cost toPlanning, Quality Assurance and Quality Control.
secure it.Quality planning is the first step when Quality related
Suppose you are the manufacturer of toys, but yourActivities of the project are planned, Quality
toys are not good enough or in other words it'sAssurance is the next stage of implementing those
below quality and no-one buys them.  To makeQuality Plans and Quality Control is the last stage,
them better or of higher quality, you start investingwhen periodic checks are done to see if Project
in really identifying what kids want, give some initialQuality is improving or not.
samples to kids and see how happy they are with