PRINCE2 Themes – Quality

The purpose of the Quality theme is to define and implement the means by which the project will create and verify products that are fit for purpose.

The Quality theme defines the PRINCE2 approach to ensuring that the project’s products:

• Meet business expectations
• Enable the desired benefits to be achieved subsequently.

The ’product focus’ principle is central to PRINCE2’s approach to quality. It provides an explicit common understanding of what the project will create (the scope) and the criteria against which the project’s products will be assessed (the quality).

Without this understanding, the project would be exposed to major risks (such as acceptance disputes, rework, uncontrolled change, user dissatisfaction) that could weaken or invalidate the Business Case.

The Quality theme also covers the implementation of continuous improvement during the project – for example, looking for ways to introduce more efficiency or effectiveness into the management of the project and the project’s products. Capturing and acting on lessons contributes to the PRINCE2 quality approach, as it is a means of achieving continuous improvement.

PRINCE2 approach to quality

The specific treatment for quality in PRINCE2 is the focus on products from the outset, requiring  systematic activities to:

• Identify all the project’s products (i.e. to the level at which the project intends to exert control).
• Define them in Product Descriptions – including the quality criteria by which they will be assessed; the quality methods to be used in designing, developing and accepting them; and the quality responsibilities of those involved.
• Implement and track the quality methods employed throughout the project.