QFD on the Web

Quality Function Deployment can help to quell many of the fears executives face when discussing a move to an Agile development methodology. It helps them to know that there is a plan in place for development, and that their development teams are not going to aimlessly add features to their applications as they see fit. (In actuality, a QFD is a type of long-range plan that outlines development for months or even years to come. It simply has extremely low over-head associated with modifying that plan on a frequent basis.) Additionally, it helps these stake holders to manage their feature pools from a high-level vantage point, without devoting endless hours to reviewing and re-reviewing individual features.

Although most quality engineers and product managers would prefer to take their cues from the consumer of their product or service, the best sources for requirements on any professional project are the project’s internal stake holders….In short, when listening to the voice of the customer, the “internal customer” should be given the bull horn.