2024W: EPM-1133-4 Instructor: Paul Wang

Date: 18.03.2024 Name: Suvetha Naveen Kumar

Topic: Reflective Journal 2 Student ID No: C0928811

Introduction:

In this reflective journal, I will discuss the cost of quality and change concepts, as discussed in
the provided images. I'll give a synopsis of the material, evaluate the importance of these ideas,
and discuss how they affect project management procedures. I will also discuss how this
information may be used in practical situations and offer suggestions for improving the
effectiveness and quality of projects. These concepts are integral to project management,
particularly in ensuring the delivery of high-quality products or services within the allocated
resources and timeframes.

What:

The provided images elucidate the importance of quality management in project delivery. They
highlight that delivery encompasses more than just fulfilling scope and requirements; it also
involves meeting certain performance levels or quality standards. Quality requirements are
reflected in various project documents such as completion criteria, definition of done, statement
of work, or requirements documentation. Quality management encompasses various aspects such
as prevention, appraisal, internal failure, and external failure costs. Prevention costs involve
activities to keep defects out of products, including quality planning, assurance, and training.

Appraisal costs are incurred to assess the degree of conformance to quality requirements
through verification, audits, and supplier rating. Internal failure costs arise from detecting and
rectifying defects before product delivery, encompassing waste, scrap, rework, and failure
analysis. Defects found after a product is delivered are known as external failure costs, and they
can result in repairs, warranty claims, complaints, returns, and reputational harm. Furthermore,

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the notion of the cost of change curve is presented, emphasizing the growing cost of fixing errors
as they become apparent later in the project's lifespan. Additionally, the discussion touches upon
the cost of the change curve, which illustrates that the later a defect is found, the more expensive
it is to correct, emphasizing the importance of early detection and prevention of quality issues.

So, What:

Two crucial project management costs that must be carefully considered are the cost of change
and quality. According to research, engaging in preventive and assessment activities
dramatically lowers overall project costs by lowering the probability of errors and failures. For
example, a study conducted in 1984 by Garvin et al. discovered that companies that
implemented proactive quality management procedures saw a decrease in defect rates and
increased customer satisfaction, leading to cost savings and increased competitiveness.
Furthermore, the exponential increase in expenses related to rectifying errors in later phases of
the project life cycle is highlighted by Boehm's Cost of Change Curve.

Cost of Quality: Quality directly impacts the project's budget and success, an essential
component of project management. Internal and external failure costs arise from noncompliance,
whereas prevention and appraisal costs are incurred to guarantee compliance with quality
requirements. While it may seem expensive initially, funding preventive and assessment efforts
in advance can significantly lower the probability of errors and malfunctions, ultimately saving
money on resources. For example, a software development project that devotes resources to
comprehensive quality assurance procedures during the development stage will probably have
fewer post-release defects and customer complaints, resulting in lower expenses for bug repairs
and customer support.

Cost of Change: As a project moves through its phases, the cost of making modifications
increases, as shown by the cost of change curve. This phenomenon emphasizes how crucial it is

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 2024W: EPM-1133-4 Instructor: Paul Wang

to identify problems early and take action to reduce their impact on adjustments made later in the
project's lifecycle. Iterative development with frequent feedback loops is encouraged by agile
approaches like Scrum, which make it possible to notice and incorporate changes early on. By
implementing agile principles, project teams can reduce the risks of last-minute adjustments and
better adjust to changing requirements. If a design problem is found during the planning stage of
a construction project, for instance, it can be fixed at a lower cost than if the flaw is discovered
during the construction phase, when changes might take a lot of time and money.

Successful project outcomes depend on integrating quality management practices into project
procedures. The collaboration efforts of quality analysts, designers, and engineers can facilitate
the detection and resolution of quality concerns at every stage of the project life cycle. To
improve product quality and lower the chance of errors going undetected until later in the
process, for example, cross-functional quality teams can be established, and frequent reviews and
inspections can be carried out. Moreover, funding staff training and development initiatives can
improve project teams' proficiency with quality management techniques, enabling them to
proactively resolve quality issues and reduce noncompliance costs.

Now What:

In the future, project managers ought to prioritize incorporating the principles of quality
management into the planning and execution phases of projects. This means stressing the value
of early fault detection and prevention and cultivating a culture of quality consciousness among
project stakeholders. Furthermore, by providing real-time monitoring and analysis of project
performance data, utilizing technical breakthroughs like predictive analytics and quality
management software can improve the efficacy of quality management procedures. Additionally,
holding lessons-learned sessions and post-project reviews can yield insightful information that
can be used to improve organizational capacity to execute high-quality projects and refine
quality management procedures.

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 2024W: EPM-1133-4 Instructor: Paul Wang

Project managers can use the following techniques to put the knowledge of quality and change
costs into practice:

1. Early Quality Assurance: To detect and resolve problems quickly, incorporate quality
assurance procedures into each project lifecycle phase. This entails exhaustive evaluations,
examinations, and assessments to guarantee adherence to quality benchmarks.

2. Ongoing Enhancement: Encourage the project team to continuously develop by accepting

comments, reflecting on the past, and implementing lessons learned. Teams may improve
procedures and get better results with every iteration by using this iterative method.

3. Control of Risk: Proactively identify and minimize the risks related to quality and change
management. Make backup strategies to handle unforeseen setbacks and minimize their impact
on project objectives.

By implementing these techniques, project managers may increase the probability of delivering
successful projects, matching stakeholder expectations, or beyond them, all while optimizing
resources and minimizing costs.

Conclusion:

The concepts of cost of quality and cost of change underscore the importance of proactive
quality management and early detection of issues in project delivery. Project teams can mitigate
risks, reduce costs, and improve overall project outcomes by investing in prevention, appraisal,
and early intervention activities. Continuous improvement and effective risk management are
essential in ensuring project success amidst evolving requirements and changing circumstances.
The notions of quality cost and change cost emphasize how crucial proactive quality
management is to project completion. Organizations can save costs, improve customer
happiness, and obtain a competitive edge in the market by engaging in preventive and
assessment efforts and resolving quality issues early in the project life cycle. Project managers

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can optimize project outcomes and promote continuous development in quality management
techniques by implementing the insights they have obtained from this reflection.

References:

1. Garvin, D. A., et al. (1984). What Does "Product Quality" Really Mean? Harvard
Business Review. Retrieved from [link]
2. Last Mile Drayage and Its Impact on Supply Chains - HD Drayage & Container Services,
LLC. https://hddrayage.com/last-mile-drayage-and-its-impact-on-supply-chains/
3. Quality Assurance Testing for Injection Molding Manufacturers - The Blogism.
https://www.theblogism.com/quality-assurance-testing-for-injection-molding-
manufacturers/
4. PMBOK Guide: What is it, Purpose, and Importance.
https://www.4pmti.com/learn/pmbok-guide/
5. SaaS application testing: Keep performance tests in mind | TechTarget.
https://www.techtarget.com/searchsoftwarequality/tip/SaaS-application-testing-Keep-
performance-tests-in-mind
6. Utilizing Typography to Convey Brand Personality in Design: A Comprehensive Guide |
Seterx: Mastering Design and Development. https://seterx.com/utilizing-typography/

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