The ability to deliver quality outcomes is critical in a demanding world, and one full of changing & morphing expectations. By having a specific focus on quality throughout the project good project management ensures that the required quality is delivered, consistently.
Quality has a cost to a project either way – either upfront in conformance, or later on due to non-conformance. Typically, the cost of conformance is lower, and brings a range of other benefits too – like customer satisfaction. The impacts of poor quality include increased cost, low morale, lower customer satisfaction, and increased risk.
By leveraging tools and techniques like Design for X, Design of Experiments, Six Sigma, Audit, and Marginal Analysis good project managers can determine and control quality aspects of any project. And, Gold Plating – a term used for over-delivery, is avoided, and the required quality is delivered even if that means managing expectations throughout the project. Alternatively, a change in quality may be acceptable, but the key is management of these expectations, and the project changes are managed carefully by a good project manager.
