Q1. Explain the process of project quality management?
Answer : Quality Process
2.1 Overview
The Quality Management Process is undertaken to ensure that the Quality Targets identified within the Quality Review Form are achieved by applying clearly defined Quality Assurance and Quality Control techniques. Quality Management will be introduced to this project through the implementation of three key processes; Establish Quality Criteria and Standards, Measure Quality of Deliverable, and Enhance Quality Achieved.
The following diagram describes the roles and process to be followed to assure and control the quality of deliverables and processes within the project.
2.2 Establish Quality Criteria and Standards
To ensure quality deliverables and successful project outcomes, it is necessary to clearly define and communicate the quality targets (objectives) and methods (approaches) to the project team.
2.2.1 Identify Quality Targets
Quality targets will vary by an organization’s mission and strategy. Quality targets should be measureable, meet product requirements, and agreed upon by the customer.
2.2.2 Identify How to Measure & Assure Quality
Since an organization’s mission and objectives may be too abstract, it is necessary to develop a set of tools to translate into these higher level concepts into something measureable and well defined.
Specific measurement criteria will need to be outlined as indicators of success or failure of a project deliverable or process. Quantitative data such as error rates, revenues, and key performance indicators are examples of metrics that will control the quality of deliverables and processes within a project. These criteria will need to be captured on the Quality Review form.
2.3 Measure Quality of Deliverable
This activity refers to the process of performing quality assurance and quality control activities to assess the actual level of quality of each deliverable and process undertaken within the project.
2.3.1 Perform Quality Assurance
Quality Assurance is defined as “the preventative steps taken to increase the likelihood of delivering a deliverable and achieving the quality targets set”. Quality Assurance techniques are often undertaken at a summarized level of the project by an external project resource. Quality assurance activities can be performed by internal project resources or external third parties. Examples include:
Process checklists and project audits Referencing historical data to understand areas where quality issues are likely to occur Reiterating the quality standards to be met to clarify the level of quality required Recruiting skilled staff to produce the deliverables and undertake the processes Undertaking Quality Reviews to provide confidence that the project is on-track Performing formal Change Control to minimize the likely number of quality issues©
2.3.2 Undertake Quality Control
Quality Control is defined as “the curative steps taken to identify the quality of the actual deliverable delivered and eliminate any variances from the quality targets set”. To simplify, quality control is used to verify that the deliverables are of acceptable quality and that they are complete and correct. Quality Control techniques are often undertaken at a detailed level of the project by an internal project resource. Examples include:
Enhance Quality Achieved
After the actual level of quality has been established (through Quality Assurance and Control), the deliverables produced should be should be compared to the quality standards that have been established and quality improvement actions should be implemented as necessary. The level of quality achieved and the preventative or corrective actions undertaken should be communicated to the Project Manager for consideration and the project plan adjusted accordingly if applicable
Undertake Quality Improvement Actions
The results from Quality Assurance and Control activities should be assessed to determine the actual quality achieved. If the quality achieved does not meet the established quality standards, then quality improvement actions should be implemented. This process should continue until the quality of the deliverables and processes meet the quality standards initially defined.
2.4.2 Report Level of Quality Achieved
Regardless of the quality outcome, it will be necessary to report the level of quality attained to the Project Manager for consideration. The Project Manager will need to understand the current level of quality of each deliverable and process and record the Quality Improvement Actions within the project plan.
3. Quality Management Roles
The following resources are typically involved with quality management on a project:
3.1 Quality Manager
Quality Managers ensure that the project produces a set of deliverables which attain a specified level of quality as agreed upon with the customer. A Project Manager can perform these activities in lieu of a Quality Manager, depending on the size and scope of the project.
The Quality Manager is formally responsible for:
Ensuring that Quality Targets are defined for each deliverable Implementing Quality Assurance techniques to assure the quality of the deliverables to be produced by the project Implementing Quality Control techniques to control the quality of the deliverables actually produced by the project Identifying quality deviations and improvement actions for implementation Recording the level of quality achieved within the Deliverables Register Reporting the quality status to the Project Manager. ©
3.2 Quality Reviewer
The Quality Reviewer identifies the actual level of quality associated with the deliverables produced and notifies the Quality Manager of any variations from the quality targets set. A Quality Reviewer may be internal to the project (implementing Quality Control) or external to the project (implementing Quality Assurance). A Project Manager can perform these activities in lieu of a Quality Manager, depending on the size and scope of the project.
The Quality Reviewer is responsible for:
- Reviewing the quality of deliverables produced and management processes undertaken
- Reporting to the Quality Manager (or Project Manager) the level of quality attained
- Escalating any quality issues identified between regular reporting periods for immediate action by the Quality Manager (or Project Manager) ©
4 . Quality Management Documents
This section lists any other documentation used to assure and control the quality of deliverables and management processes within the project.
4.1 Quality Review Form
The Project Quality Review Form is used to conduct a formal Quality Review of the deliverables and processes within the project. This form is used to assess the level of quality of the management processes being undertaken to deliver the required deliverables. Process Reviews should be undertaken on a regular basis (e.g. weekly, monthly) in a standard, repeatable fashion. The procedures within each management process should be reviewed and the impact of any deviation from the required procedures should be noted and acted on immediately.
4.2 Project Closure Report
The Project Closure report formalizes the closure of the project. It provides confirmation that the quality criteria for the project deliverables have been met and requests approval from the Project Sponsor to formally close the project.
Q2. What are the differences between quality control and quality assurance?
Q3. Discuss the characteristics of a matrix organization
Q4.a. Describe the benefits of quality in project performance
b. Briefly explain the Wheel of Quality model
Q5. Briefly explain the working of EPM within a model..
b. How to cultivate communities of practice?
