Quality Specifications in PRINCE2 7 represent a fundamental component of the quality management approach that ensures products meet their intended purpose and stakeholder expectations. These specifications define the measurable criteria against which products will be assessed, providing clear bench…Quality Specifications in PRINCE2 7 represent a fundamental component of the quality management approach that ensures products meet their intended purpose and stakeholder expectations. These specifications define the measurable criteria against which products will be assessed, providing clear benchmarks for acceptance.
A Quality Specification describes the quality attributes that a product must possess to be considered fit for purpose. This includes specific characteristics, standards, and tolerances that the product should achieve. The specification acts as a contract between the project team and stakeholders, establishing mutual understanding of what constitutes an acceptable deliverable.
Key elements typically found in Quality Specifications include:
1. Quality Criteria: These are measurable descriptions of the attributes required for the product to be acceptable. They should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.
2. Quality Tolerances: These define the permissible deviation from the specified quality criteria, providing flexibility while maintaining acceptable standards.
3. Quality Methods: These outline the techniques and approaches used to verify that products meet their specifications, such as testing, reviews, or inspections.
4. Quality Responsibilities: These identify who is accountable for ensuring quality standards are met and who has authority to approve products.
Quality Specifications are documented within Product Descriptions, which provide comprehensive information about each product the project will create. This documentation ensures consistency in quality expectations across the project team and supports effective quality control activities.
The Project Board maintains ultimate responsibility for quality, while the Project Manager ensures quality specifications are properly defined and communicated. Team Managers and team members execute quality control activities against these specifications.
By establishing clear Quality Specifications early in the project lifecycle, teams can prevent costly rework, manage stakeholder expectations effectively, and deliver products that truly meet business needs. This proactive approach to quality represents a cornerstone of successful project delivery within the PRINCE2 framework.
Quality Specifications in PRINCE2 Foundation v7
Why Quality Specifications are Important
Quality Specifications are fundamental to project success because they define what 'quality' actually means for each product or deliverable. They provide measurable criteria that allow teams to objectively assess whether a product meets the required standards. This prevents misunderstandings between stakeholders and the project team, reduces rework, and ensures customer satisfaction.
What are Quality Specifications?
Quality Specifications are detailed descriptions of the quality criteria that a product must meet to be acceptable. They form part of the Product Description and include:
• Quality Criteria: Measurable characteristics the product must achieve (e.g., response time under 3 seconds, 99.9% uptime) • Quality Tolerance: The acceptable range of deviation from the specified criteria • Quality Method: How the product will be tested or inspected • Quality Responsibilities: Who is responsible for checking quality
How Quality Specifications Work in PRINCE2
1. During Initiation: Quality expectations are captured from the customer and documented in the Project Product Description
2. During Planning: Each Product Description contains specific quality specifications derived from customer expectations
3. During Delivery: Products are checked against their quality specifications using the defined methods
4. During Acceptance: The customer confirms products meet the agreed quality specifications
Quality Specifications provide the baseline for quality reviews and help determine when a product is complete and fit for purpose.
Key Relationships
Quality Specifications connect to: • Customer's quality expectations - the source of quality requirements • Acceptance criteria - used to confirm project completion • Quality Register - records all quality activities against specifications • Product Descriptions - where specifications are documented
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Quality Specifications
1. Remember the source: Quality Specifications originate from the customer's quality expectations. If a question asks where quality criteria come from, think customer first.
2. Focus on measurability: Quality Specifications must be measurable. Vague statements like 'high quality' or 'user-friendly' are not valid specifications.
3. Know the location: Quality Specifications are documented in Product Descriptions, not in separate documents.
4. Distinguish from acceptance criteria: Quality Specifications define product standards; acceptance criteria confirm the overall project deliverables are acceptable to the customer.
5. Link to quality methods: Questions may ask how quality is verified - the answer involves quality methods defined alongside specifications.
6. Watch for tolerance questions: Quality tolerance allows some flexibility in meeting exact specifications. This is defined at the product level.
7. Common exam scenarios: • Who defines quality specifications? (Customer/user input, documented by Project Manager or Team Manager) • Where are they recorded? (Product Description) • What makes a good quality specification? (Measurable, achievable, relevant)
8. Trap answers to avoid: Be cautious of options suggesting quality can be defined after product creation or that quality specifications are optional.