Three Main Phases in a Project

Abstract

Quality at entry (QaE) is an indicator used by The World Bank to assess the viability of project proposals before they are approved. QaE is considered a prime determinant of successful project outcomes. The assessment focuses on three main questions:

Are the project objectives worthwhile and the risks commensurate with potential rewards?

Is the project likely to achieve its objectives?

Is the underlying logic clearly articulated?

Procedures are in operation to use this metric on all projects supported by The World Bank and annual reviews are carried out to determine how the organization is performing on what is perceived as an essential indicator of future performance when projects are implemented. The reason is the strong correlation between QaE and the success of projects that the Bank has documented, see section 7.1.

Experience suggests that our possibility to make major amendments is at its highest in the earliest stages of a project while at the same time the cost of making the right decisions is low. The cost of making major amendments will rapidly increase as the project enters its implementation phase. In other words, our chance to increase return on investments at a relatively reasonable cost is at its highest up front.

Time passes – even when you are sitting still.

–Danish humorist Robert Storm Pedersen