In the context of the PRINCE2 7 Quality Practice, Quality Planning is the critical, proactive process of defining the project's quality basis before work commences. It ensures that the project's outputs will be fit for purpose and meet the business stakeholders' requirements.
The process begins b…In the context of the PRINCE2 7 Quality Practice, Quality Planning is the critical, proactive process of defining the project's quality basis before work commences. It ensures that the project's outputs will be fit for purpose and meet the business stakeholders' requirements.
The process begins by ascertaining the Customer's Quality Expectations and translating these often-subjective desires into specific, measurable Acceptance Criteria, documented within the Project Product Description. This establishes the overall quality targets for the final output.
Central to Quality Planning is the creation of the Quality Management Approach. This document defines the strategy, standards, and processes to be applied, ensuring a consistent approach to quality control and assurance. It also clarifies Quality Responsibilities, distinguishing between those who specify, produce, review, and approve products.
At a granular level, Quality Planning involves creating Product Descriptions for each deliverable. These descriptions must detail precise Quality Criteria—the specific specifications (e.g., dimensions, speed, or sustainability metrics) the product must meet. Furthermore, it defines the Quality Methods (such as in-process inspections, testing, or pilots) required to verify these criteria and sets Quality Tolerances to define acceptable deviation ranges.
PRINCE2 7 specifically emphasizes that Quality Planning is not merely about technical compliance but also involves considering the 'people' aspect and sustainability goals. Effective planning prevents rework and scope creep by ensuring a shared understanding of 'what good looks like' between the user and supplier prior to production.
Guide to Quality Planning: PRINCE2 Practitioner v7
What is Quality Planning? In the context of PRINCE2 v7, Quality Planning is the process of identifying the products required for the project and defining their respective quality criteria, quality methods, and the quality responsibilities of those involved. It is distinct from Quality Control (which is the execution of these plans). Quality Planning essentially establishes the baseline for quality against which the final outputs will be judged.
Why is it Important? Quality Planning is crucial because it ensures that there is a shared understanding of what needs to be delivered before work commences. Without it: 1. Expectations Align: It bridges the gap between the user's expectations and the supplier's deliverables. 2. Cost Efficiency: It is far cheaper to agree on specifications during planning than to fix a non-conforming product after it has been built. 3. Basis for Approval: It provides the specific criteria that must be met for the project to be signed off.
How Quality Planning Works Quality planning flows from the high level to the specific details:
1. Customer's Quality Expectations & Acceptance Criteria: Defined early in the project (Project Brief), these set the overall standards and specific measurable definitions of what a successful project looks like. 2. Project Product Description: This is created during the Starting Up a Project process. It defines the main output of the project and includes the project-level quality tolerances. 3. Product Descriptions: For every lower-level product, a Product Description is created during the Initiating a Project or Managing a Stage Boundary processes. This includes: - Quality Criteria: Detailed specifications (e.g., specific dimensions, speed, color). - Quality Tolerances: The allowable range of variation (e.g., +/- 1mm). - Quality Methods: How quality will be checked (e.g., visual inspection, automated testing). - Quality Skills: Who is required to perform the check. 4. The Quality Register: As part of planning, the Quality Register is set up to schedule these quality activities. It acts as a diary of planned quality events.
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Quality Planning When facing PRINCE2 Practitioner questions regarding Quality Planning, keep the following strategies in mind:
1. Distinguish Planning from Control: Read the question carefully. Are they asking about defining criteria (Planning) or testing/approving results (Control)? If the scenario describes checking a product or maintaining the register after a test, that is Quality Control. If it involves writing a Product Description, it is Quality Planning.
2. The 'Quality Register' Trap: Remember that the Quality Register is created during planning but updated during control. If a question asks about populating the register with dates and names before creation, it refers to planning.
3. Specificity of Criteria: Practitioner questions often ask you to critique a 'Product Description'. Look for Quality Criteria that are vague (e.g., 'high quality', 'user-friendly'). These are poor criteria. Valid criteria must be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound (SMART). If an option suggests changing 'good performance' to 'loads in under 2 seconds', that is the correct Quality Planning action.
4. Acceptance vs. Quality Criteria: Ensure you do not confuse Project Acceptance Criteria (Project level, used to close the project) with Quality Criteria (Product level, used to sign off specific deliverables).
5. Tailoring: Look for evidence in the scenario that quality planning has been tailored. For example, in an agile environment, quality criteria might be defined in the form of 'Definitions of Done' or user stories rather than formal Product Description documents.