Quality Management as a Process
Quality project management is an activity you need to perform from the concept of the deliverable to the release of the deliverable to ensure quality in all your activities. It is a belief that the process a project manager follows to ensure quality from the start of a project will propagate to the activities of the project team throughout the life span of the project.
Several concepts claim to be the “secret potion” for guaranteed successful projects every time. However, the one weakness, and common theme, in all project management processes is the reliability and willingness of the project manager and the project team to participate. This situation is comparable to joining a gym to get in shape—you have to actually go to the gym and work out to get the desired results. The same holds true with these concepts: you have to use and follow their principles for them to work.
Quality Phases of Project Management
There are five phases within a project as Figure 10-5 demonstrates. Each phase keeps an eye toward the quality of the deliverable or ensures that quality exists within the creation of the deliverable. Within each of the following areas, a project manager must work to implement quality and quality management checkpoints:
-
Initiating The origin of the project results from a reaction to a need or an opportunity. This realization of the need or opportunity is the concept of the project. The business needs of the organization are addressed to ensure that the project will satisfy these needs first. Once the project charter has been written to authorize the project manager, the project can move into planning. Quality is affected from the start. If the expectations of the quality aren’t set, aren’t planned for, or aren’t quantified, the project’s success is doomed.
-
Planning The cornerstone of a successful project is the planning phase. The project manager and project team must identify the required activities and estimate the time necessary to complete the activities in order to reach the project goal. Through the research, project managers can identify the necessary resources, funding, and skills required to achieve success. Armed with this information, the project manager can create the project plan. Quality doesn’t happen by accident. During the planning process group, the project management and the project team must plan how the quality demands will be met.
-
Executing Once the project plan has been approved, the project work can begin. The project manager will rely on the work authorization system to record task completion and allow new projects to begin. Quality must be executed as part of the work. The project team must follow the specifics to meet quality demands as defined in the project plan.
-
Controlling This phase of project management is a continuous cycle to oversee the project. In this phase, more than any other, the project manager ensures quality through quality control. Scope verification is also done here to ensure that the project is delivering what was promised. Project managers also control projects through cost control, schedule control, and risk management. The process of managing the project must be of quality as well. Quality control is inspection-driven.
-
Closing This phase of project management is the sigh of relief. It requires proof of the project deliverables, approval from management, and satisfaction from the customers or end users. This final stage moves the project from a work in progress to a component of the business. The final reports are submitted, archived, and the Lessons Learned is completed. Quality also happens in the closing phase. A complete and final review of the project, its ability to meet the quality objectives, and the quality of the project management experience is required.
These five phases of project management all contribute not only to the success or failure of the project, but also to the quality of the deliverables. A dedication to doing the required activities properly and with confidence in each phase is what leads to quality. Any one phase that is lacking a commitment to the success of the project can cause the entire project to be off balance, and ultimately fail.