How do you foster a culture of quality in your project team?

1 Define quality criteria

The first step to foster a culture of quality is to define what quality means for your project, and how you will measure it. Quality criteria are the specific requirements, standards, and indicators that your project deliverable must meet or exceed to satisfy your stakeholders. You should involve your project team, your sponsor, your customer, and any other relevant stakeholders in defining and agreeing on the quality criteria, and document them in a quality management plan. This will help you to align your team's expectations, goals, and responsibilities, and to communicate them clearly and consistently throughout the project.

2 Implement quality assurance

The second step to foster a culture of quality is to implement quality assurance, which is the process of ensuring that your project team is following the best practices, processes, and standards that support the delivery of quality work. Quality assurance involves planning, monitoring, and improving the quality of your project activities, such as design, development, testing, and review. You should establish and follow a quality assurance process that includes regular audits, checklists, feedback, and improvement actions. You should also encourage your project team to adopt a continuous improvement mindset, and to share and learn from best practices, lessons learned, and success stories.

3 Conduct quality control

The third step to foster a culture of quality is to conduct quality control, which is the process of verifying that your project deliverable meets or exceeds the quality criteria that you have defined. Quality control involves testing, inspecting, and evaluating your project deliverable against the quality standards, specifications, and requirements that you have agreed on with your stakeholders. You should conduct quality control at every stage of your project, and use appropriate tools and techniques, such as checklists, reviews, inspections, tests, and surveys. You should also document and report the results of your quality control, and take corrective actions if necessary.

4 Recognize and reward quality

The fourth step to foster a culture of quality is to recognize and reward quality, which is the process of acknowledging and appreciating the efforts and achievements of your project team in delivering quality work. Recognizing and rewarding quality can motivate your project team to maintain or improve their performance, and to feel valued and respected for their contributions. You should recognize and reward quality in both formal and informal ways, such as by giving feedback, praise, recognition, incentives, bonuses, or awards. You should also celebrate and share the successes and outcomes of your project with your stakeholders, and highlight the impact and value of your project deliverable.

5 Address quality issues

The fifth step to foster a culture of quality is to address quality issues, which are the problems or defects that affect the quality of your project deliverable or process. Quality issues can arise from various sources, such as human errors, technical glitches, changes in requirements, or external factors. You should address quality issues promptly and effectively, and prevent them from recurring or escalating. You should use a systematic approach to identify, analyze, resolve, and communicate quality issues, such as by using a root cause analysis, a problem-solving process, or a corrective action plan. You should also involve your project team and stakeholders in addressing quality issues, and seek their input, feedback, and support.

6 Promote quality awareness

The sixth step to foster a culture of quality is to promote quality awareness, which is the process of creating and maintaining a positive and proactive attitude towards quality among your project team and stakeholders. Quality awareness means that your project team and stakeholders understand the importance, benefits, and implications of quality for your project, and that they are committed and engaged in achieving and maintaining it. You should promote quality awareness by communicating your quality vision, values, and expectations clearly and frequently, by providing training, coaching, and mentoring on quality topics and skills, by involving your project team and stakeholders in quality decisions and actions, and by creating a supportive and collaborative environment that fosters quality.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?