Every project should include quality management. Simply, this is making sure whatever is delivered via the project is within the quality expectations of the consumer and project charter. There are 2 perspectives of quality:
Questions to be considered:
- Did we apply proper project management practices? (Judging the project)
- Does the outcome of the project fit the user's needs? (Judging the deliverables)
Quality materials are often used in a quality management plan. These include the following:
- Standards - no deviation from - rigid
- Guidelines - similar to standards but more flexible - used to guide vs. dictate
- Checklists - lists used to prompt an action
- Templates - blank documents to be used in certain stages of a project. Usually contain examples/instructions.
- Procedures - outlines steps to be taken in an area of the project - the what and when
- Process - description of how something works - the why and how
- User Guides - provide theory, principles, and detailed instructions on how to apply procedures
- Example Documents - examples from prior projects
- Methodology - collection of processes, procedures, templates and tools to guide a team through the project
At the end of this phase, a quality plan should be created. The plan will use quality materials to check deliverables.