It’s easy to find excuses for not implementing quality processes within a project environment and 10 of the most common ones are listed below. But next time you are about to make one of these excuses (and, let’s face it, we all have from time-to-time) why not, instead, try to change whatever it is that is preventing you from focussing on quality.
It may not have an impact on your current project, or even your next project, but a continuous effort to improve quality in project management processes and procedures will eventually lead to more successful project outcomes. And that is just as true whether you are managing a complex construction project or an IT or small digital marketing project.
1. I’m Too Busy
Project managers tend to be overloaded just managing the budget and schedule and simply can’t cope with quality tasks. Quality-focussed activities should be built into the project plan right from the start to prevent this happening.
2. I Lack the Power to Implement Quality Initiatives
Frequently project managers do not have the authority to make decisions and changes that will affect the quality of their procedures and the quality of their end-products.
3. Internal Politics get in the way
Differences of opinion between the project team and the business departments involved in the project can cause disputes that affect quality. Seconding personnel from different departments to form part of the project team can help to minimise misunderstandings and disagreements.
4. There is No Formal Quality Plan
A well-documented and well-communicated quality plan is necessary to ensure everyone involved in the project understands the importance of quality in the project processes and procedures and that they co-operate with quality initiatives.
5. The Project Team Lacks Motivation
A project team that lacks motivation, for whatever reason, will contribute to poor quality processes and ultimately a poor quality project outcome.
6. Quality is a one-off activity
Improvements in quality are a continuous process that is regularly updated as lessons are learnt. Viewing it as an activity to be done and then forgotten about will never lead to high-quality processes and solutions.
7. My Company Focuses on Short-Term Benefits
Organisations, and hence their project teams, are often driven to achieve results by a given date. When a deadline is looming quality is often the first issue to fall by the wayside.
8. Lack of Commitment from Senior Management
For quality to be an integral part of projects within any organisation there must be substantial commitment from senior management to ensure the time and resources are available and to drive the quality initiative forward.
9. Lack of Customer Focus
Customers, both internal and external, have different needs and expectations and these needs and expectations change over time so very project manager should make a concerted effort to re-appraise these for every project.
10. No Clear Definition of Quality
The definition of quality within an organisation should be a collaborative effort between project and business teams to ensure the opinions and ideas of all concerned are incorporated into the definition.