Overview


Many quality characteristics, especially those related to innovation, customer needs, and product development issues upstream, are not easily quantifiable. The seven new (N7) tools of quality control (QC), developed by the Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers (JUSE), were devised to aid in organizing, analyzing, and interpreting qualitative and worded data. These tools were subsequently modified and adapted to American industrial practices by Goal/QPC to a similar set of management and planning tools, called Seven Management and Planning Tools (7 MP Tools): affinity diagram, interrelationship diagraph (I.D.), tree diagram, prioritization matrices, matrix diagram, process decision program chart (PDPC), and activity network diagram. The 7 MP tools are by and large qualitative and preventive; B7 tools, on the other hand, are essentially quantitative and diagnostic.

An affinity diagram is a set of ideas about the topic in question that are grouped based on their similarity. It is a problem-solving tool for chaotic, difficult, and complex problems.

An interrelationship diagraph (I.D.) is a tool that helps explore and identify causal relationships between various ideas. It is thus an extension of an affinity diagram and is often drawn after an affinity diagram has been constructed.

The tree diagram is a technique to identify the most important, appropriate, and effective means of attaining a given set of objectives. It charts various paths in increasingly unfolding details to achieve a principal objective and other related goals.

Prioritization matrices prioritize tasks, issues, or product characteristics based on known weighted criteria using a combination of tree and matrix diagram techniques.

A matrix diagram displays complex relationships involving two or more sets of ideas. A number of forms have been used, but the L-shaped form is the most common.

A PDPC is like a tree diagram that seeks to identify all the things and tasks that can possibly go wrong and specifies necessary countermeasures to prevent or correct them.

The activity network diagram is essentially a combination of Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) and Critical Path Method (CPM). It also includes other network diagrams such as node diagram, activity on node diagram (AON), and precedence diagram (PDM). This tool is used to plan the most appropriate schedule for a complex task when the task at hand is a familiar one.

These tools deal with qualitative and verbal data. They are valuable in the planning, design, and development phases, which have a profound effect on overall software quality. Affinity, tree, and matrix diagrams are relatively simple and remain popular as powerful quality tools. Brassard has purposed a set of behavioral skills that must be mastered too to be truly effective in using these tools: trust the process; value brainstorming; observe discipline; be patient; trust in your initial gut reaction; treasure listening skills; know when to stop; recognize when the tools are inappropriate; bring integrity; respect flexibility and creativity and tolerate ambiguity; and value, don't simply tolerate, the different perceptions of others.

Chapter Outline

  • The N7 and 7 MP Tools

  • Typical Applications of 7 MP Tools

  • Affinity Diagram

  • Interrelationship Diagraph (I.D.)

  • Tree Diagram

  • Prioritization Matrices

  • Matrix Diagram

  • Process Decision Program Chart (PDPC)

  • Activity Network Diagram

  • Behavioral Skills for 7 MP Tools

  • Key Points

  • Additional Resources

  • Review Questions

  • Discussion Questions and Projects

  • Endnotes




Design for Trustworthy Software. Tools, Techniques, and Methodology of Developing Robust Software
Design for Trustworthy Software: Tools, Techniques, and Methodology of Developing Robust Software
ISBN: 0131872508
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2006
Pages: 394

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