Paper short abstract:

The quality of development projects influences sustainability, yet within development quality is less visible than other measures. The paper identifies that quality is contingent on hierarchical and contextual factors, which leads to challenges around the function of development projects.

Paper long abstract:

In comparison to other performance measurements used in development, such as impact or accountability, the concept of quality has received relatively little attention. Yet poor quality implementation of projects is well accepted as having a negative effect on sustainable outcomes.

A doctoral study was undertaken with three non-government organisations in Southeast Asia to explore how quality was articulated in development projects. An extensive literature review was completed to construct a relevant concept of quality that can be applied to development practice. This resulted in quality being framed as the dynamic interaction between achievement and expectation.

Observations from this research point towards a layered and contextual comprehension of quality within development. In particular, there are subtle moves towards a more generic approach to development practice, driven largely by program standards, while the specificity of project designs seems to becoming less influential. Furthermore, the articulation of quality appears to be dependent on the hierarchy of staff. Senior management are more focused on organisational (program) standards while project staff consider quality is related to the achievement of targets.

A particular position advanced by this paper is the need to ensure that development remains contextually relevant to communities rather than an organisation perspective. This suggests there should be practical limits on the relative influence between program standards and project designs. This paper concludes with some development policy implications related to role of standards and designs and the application of quality to sustainability.