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Notes by stereobooster

quality

Definition

Section titled “Definition”

There are a lot of definitions, here are some which make sense to me.

For us, the quality of a product or service depends on an exchange between two persons, one supplying the product or service and the other receiving the product or service. The supplier and the customer can have different views on what quality is and this may lead to misunderstandings and disputes. In that sense, quality can be understood as “the conformance with customers’ requirements or fitness for purpose”.

Quality has many dimensions and these have been defined by Garvin (1987) as follows:

  • Performance, which refers to a product’s main operating characteristics;
  • Reliability, which reflects the probability of a product malfunctioning or failing within a specified period;
  • Durability, which is the amount of use before the product deteriorates;
  • Features, which are extras that supplement the main characteristics;
  • Conformance, which is the degree to which a product’s design and operating characteristics meet established standards;
  • Serviceability, which is dependent on the service team’s speed, courtesy, competence and the products ease of repair;
  • Aesthetics, which is linked to appearance and impression;
  • Perceived quality, which is linked to the reputation of the brand.

— Export Quality Management: A Guide for Small and Medium-Sized Exporters - Second Edition ↗

One more definition:

Quality refers to the degree of excellence or superiority of something. It is a measure of how well a product, service, or process meets or exceeds customer expectations and requirements. Quality can be subjective and may vary depending on the context and the perspective of the individuals involved. In general, quality can be assessed based on various factors, including:

  1. Performance: The ability of a product or service to fulfill its intended purpose effectively and efficiently.
  2. Reliability: The consistency and dependability of a product or service to perform consistently over time and under varying conditions.
  3. Durability: The ability of a product to withstand wear, decay, or damage and maintain its performance over an extended period.
  4. Functionality: The range of features and capabilities of a product or service that enables it to perform its intended tasks effectively.
  5. Safety: The absence of potential harm or hazards associated with a product or service, ensuring it does not pose risks to users or the environment.
  6. Usability: The ease with which a product or service can be used or operated by its intended users, considering factors such as user interface, intuitiveness, and accessibility.
  7. Aesthetics: The visual appeal, design, and overall attractiveness of a product or service.
  8. Customer satisfaction: The level of satisfaction or delight experienced by customers when using a product or service, often influenced by factors such as reliability, functionality, and customer support.

— What is Quality? ↗

In software development

Section titled “In software development”
  1. Performance
    • montioring: RUM ↗
    • testing: benchmarks, performance testing, load testing, stress testing, swarm testing,
  2. Reliability
  3. Durability: seems to be not applicable
  4. Functionality
    • monitoring: crash reporting, help desk, bug tracking systems, surveys
    • testing: unit, integration, feature, contract tests, formal verification
  5. Safety
  6. Usability
    • montioring: surveys, heat maps
    • testing: user research, a11y testing, A/B testing
    • standards: WCAG, etc.
Section titled “Related”