---
title: "Define Quality as Value to a Prioritised Persona"
source: "https://virtualddd.com/heuristics/define-quality-as-value-to-a-prioritised-persona/"
authors: ["Anne-Marie Charrett"]
tags: ["quality", "software design", "sociotechnical systems"]
type: "value based heuristics"
question: "How should we define and measure quality when it is inherently subjective and context-dependent?"
submitter: "Anne-Marie Charrett"
---

# Define Quality as Value to a Prioritised Persona

Define quality as ’value to some person who matters’, forcing prioritisation of whose perspective is most critical. This transforms quality from an abstract concept into a tangible goal tied to the experience of a specific stakeholder or user. This focus clarifies trade-offs and aligns effort with strategic intent.

## Example

Instead of aiming to satisfy all requirements, we first identify our primary customer. We then define quality as that which solves their most significant problems, even if it means deprioritising other documented specifications.

deprioritising