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Managing a Project - The Quality Factor

February 16, 2009 | Author: PM Hut | Filed under: Quality Management

Managing a Project - The Quality Factor (#12 in the Hut Project Management Handbook)
By Wouter Baars

The project result must fulfill a number of quality requirements. This also applies to the various intermediate products of the project. When managing a project, it is particularly important for quality requirements to be determined, agreed upon and recorded in writing during the definition phase. These requirements should never remain implicit. A clear list of requirements can be checked at the end of the implementation phase. This can allow the project team to prove that they have carried out the project according to specifications. Additional quality requirements may be specified for various tasks within the project. For example, a particular task can be carried out only by certified personnel.

Quality in project plans

  • Establish the desired quality of the project result and the intermediate products (this takes place primarily in the definition phase).
  • Establish the desired quality of the carrying out of the various activities in the project.

Quality in progress monitoring

  • Test the (intermediate) results.
  • Address any quality problems.

Quality in the project reporting

  • Confirm that the desired quality has been attained.
  • Address any complaints (particularly in the follow-up phase).

Perfectionism impedes project management. A pragmatic attitude toward the quality levels of a project can be expressed as ‘Good enough is good’. Projects that strive to achieve the highest possible level of quality are often at great risk of never being completed.

Next in the Hut Project Management Handbook:

Project Team Organization

Previously in the Hut Project Management Handbook:

Managing a Project - The Money Factor

Wouter Baars has a Master of Science degree in Industrial Engineering and Management Science. He has been a project manager for several years for The European commission, Waag Society, KPN (Dutch telecom provider) and many smaller organizations. He is specialized in creative projects such as serious game development, e-learning and software development. Currently he is teaching project management and coaching organizations that are working on their project management. More info on his work: www.projectmanagement-training.net.

Originally published by DANS – Data Archiving and Networked Services - The Hague

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[...] Managing a Project - The Quality Factor [...]

Managing a Project - The Money Factor - PM Hut wrote on February 16, 2009 - 11:41 am | Visit Link

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