Quality Criteria represent the measurable standards or attributes that a product must meet to be deemed acceptable to stakeholders. In PRINCE2, these criteria are essential components of Product Descriptions and form the basis for quality verification throughout the project lifecycle. Quality Crite…Quality Criteria represent the measurable standards or attributes that a product must meet to be deemed acceptable to stakeholders. In PRINCE2, these criteria are essential components of Product Descriptions and form the basis for quality verification throughout the project lifecycle. Quality Criteria provide objective benchmarks against which deliverables can be assessed to determine whether they are "fit for purpose." When defining Quality Criteria, they should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). For example, rather than stating a system should be "user-friendly," a specific criterion might require "95% of new users complete basic tasks without assistance within 5 minutes of first use." Quality Criteria are identified during the planning stages and documented in the Product Description for each product. They guide the creation of Quality Checking Methods and influence the design of test plans and quality inspection activities. The criteria are derived from customer expectations, regulatory requirements, organizational standards, and technical specifications. Well-defined Quality Criteria reduce ambiguity, minimize rework, facilitate clear communication between stakeholders, and provide a framework for making acceptance decisions. Project managers must ensure that Quality Criteria are reviewed and approved by relevant stakeholders, especially those who will ultimately accept the product. Throughout the project, these criteria may need to be revised as understanding of requirements evolves, but changes should follow formal configuration management procedures.
Quality Criteria: Complete Guide for PRINCE2 Foundation
Quality Criteria: What They Are and Why They Matter
Quality Criteria are specific descriptions of the attributes that a product must have to meet stakeholder expectations and be fit for purpose. In PRINCE2, they form a critical component of the Quality Management approach by providing clear, measurable standards against which products can be verified.
Why Quality Criteria Are Important
Quality Criteria serve several essential functions in PRINCE2:
• They provide objective benchmarks for determining whether a product meets requirements • They enable clear communication about expected quality among stakeholders • They help prevent scope creep by clearly defining what "good enough" means • They form the basis for testing and quality control activities • They reduce the risk of delivering unsuitable products that fail to meet user needs
How Quality Criteria Work in PRINCE2
Within the PRINCE2 framework, Quality Criteria function as follows:
1. Definition during planning: Quality Criteria are defined when creating Product Descriptions during the planning processes.
2. Components of Product Descriptions: Every Product Description must include Quality Criteria that specify what will make the product acceptable.
3. Basis for quality methods: The criteria determine what quality methods (reviews, testing, etc.) should be used for verification.
4. Used during the Quality Review Technique: Reviewers evaluate products against these pre-defined criteria.
5. Connected to Quality Management Strategy: The approach to developing Quality Criteria should be outlined in the project's Quality Management Strategy.
Characteristics of Effective Quality Criteria
Good Quality Criteria are:
• Measurable: Can be objectively assessed (e.g., "response time under 3 seconds" rather than "fast response time") • Achievable: Realistic within the project constraints • Unambiguous: Clear and not open to interpretation • Complete: Cover all important quality aspects of the product • Traceable: Can be linked back to requirements and stakeholder expectations
Examples of Quality Criteria
For a software application: • Must support at least 1000 concurrent users • Must comply with GDPR regulations • All critical errors must be resolved • 99.9% uptime required
For a written report: • Maximum 20 pages in length • Must include executive summary • All statistics must include sources • No spelling or grammatical errors
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Quality Criteria
1. Know the definition: Understand that Quality Criteria are measurable statements of the standards a product must meet to be acceptable.
2. Differentiate from similar concepts: Quality Criteria are different from quality standards (industry norms) and acceptance criteria (broader business requirements).
3. Remember the connection to Product Descriptions: Questions often test whether you know that Quality Criteria are mandatory elements of Product Descriptions.
4. Understand the Quality theme relationships: Know how Quality Criteria relate to other Quality theme components like quality planning, quality control, and quality assurance.
5. Recognize responsibility patterns: Be clear that: • Senior User defines Quality Criteria • Project Manager ensures criteria are documented in Product Descriptions • Team Manager ensures team members understand the criteria
6. Apply the concept in scenarios: Practice identifying whether example criteria are actually measurable and specific, or just vague statements.
7. Focus on measurability: If asked to identify valid Quality Criteria, always select options that include specific, measurable attributes.
Remember that Quality Criteria represent a practical application of the "Continued Business Justification" principle by ensuring that products deliver the expected benefits and are fit for purpose.