How do you handle company and stakeholder needs that might impact product quality? - AMA about Project Management
27 Mar 2026
In this moment:
Ady Stokes
Ady asks:
How do you handle company and stakeholder needs that might impact product quality, for example, wanting to release before all risks are mitigated or having a lack of interest in usability or accessibility testing?
My answer:
I can only present them with the facts. Ultimately, a decision about such trade-offs lies with the higher-ups. When the decision is to give up product quality for something else, my job is to make sure that everyone involved is aware of the risk it brings.
In my opinion, the key is documentation. Writing down the impact of their idea and reading it back to them might just change their mind. And if it doesn't, it serves as a decision record for future reference.
Good ways to document product quality trade-offs:
- meeting protocols (make sure to send them to all participants)
- Architecture Decision Records (ADRs)
- Risk Assessment documentation (mark as "Accepted")
- Backlog (fix later for more money)
What's your answer? Comment below 👇🏻
Nadja Schulz
Project Manager
she/her
Loves ducks and cheese, doing what she wants & solving problems 🦄
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