Which step in the vendor management lifecycle involves ensuring service quality after implementation?

The step in the vendor management lifecycle that focuses on ensuring service quality after implementation is Ongoing Monitoring. This phase is critical because it involves regularly assessing the vendor's performance to verify that they meet the agreed-upon service levels, deliverables, and compliance requirements. Ongoing monitoring helps organizations identify any issues that might arise post-implementation, allowing for timely resolutions and ensuring that the relationship with the vendor continues to meet organizational needs.

During this phase, organizations may establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and conduct regular reviews or audits of the vendor's performance. This proactive approach helps maintain service quality and can lead to improved vendor relationships, ultimately benefiting the organization's operations.

The other steps in the vendor management lifecycle—such as planning, due diligence in vendor selection, and termination—serve different purposes. Planning lays the groundwork for what is needed from a vendor, due diligence assesses the potential vendor's capabilities and risks before any contract is signed, and termination deals with concluding the relationship when necessary. However, none of these steps directly address the ongoing responsibility to monitor and ensure quality service after a vendor has been chosen and implemented, making Ongoing Monitoring the appropriate answer.