Performing Quality Assurance

After the Quality Management Planning is completed and implemented, attention can be turned to Performing Quality Assurance, the second of the three processes needed to guide the project in producing quality results. According to the definition found in the PMBOK, "Quality Assurance (QA) is the application of planned systematic quality activities to ensure that the project will employ all processes needed to meet requirements."

Q.	The PMBOK treats Perform Quality Assurance with:
		A.	Inputs
		B.	Tools and techniques
		C.	Outputs
		D.	All of the above

The answer is D, all of the above. In fact, the PMBOK lists ten inputs to the Perform Quality Assurance process.

Q.	One of the inputs to Quality Assurance according to the PMBOK is:
		A.	Statement of Scope
		B.	Quality Policy
		C.	Quality Management Plan
		D.	Checklists

The answer is C. The Quality Management Plan is the first of the ten inputs listed.

The other inputs to Quality Assurance are Quality Metrics, Process Improvement Plan, Work Performance Information, Approved Change Requests, Quality Control Measurements, Implemented Change Requests, Corrective Action, Defect Repair, and Preventive Actions. Quality Control Measurements are documented in such things as Statistical Process Control charting and Inspection Reports such as Pass/Fail reporting and Corrective Action reports that detail each discrepancy and the action taken to fix it. Operational Definitions or Metrics establish what will be measured that is related to the quality of the project and its products.

Q.	Another term for Operational Definitions is:
		A.	Project Measurements
		B.	Metrics
		C.	Quality Definitions
		D.	Quality Policies

The answer is B, Metrics, which can be used interchangeably with Operational Definitions. Generally speaking, Operational Definitions include product attributes, performance criteria, and the methods and processes that are used to measure quality.

The PMBOK says that the tools and techniques used in Quality Assurance are Quality Planning tools and techniques, Quality Audits, Process Analysis, and Quality Control tools and techniques. Among the Quality Planning tools and techniques are benchmarking, flowcharting, designing experiments, and conducting cost/benefit analyses. Benchmarking involves picking a practice, process, product, service, cost, etc. that sets the standard for all others. This gives you a standard against which you can measure your present position, and it can help you track progress toward attaining or even exceeding the standard you have selected.

Q.	Benchmarking is useful for:
		A.	Measuring your level of quality against a standard
		B.	Determining your major quality problems
		C.	Engineering quality only
		D.	Software quality only

The answer is A, measuring your level of quality against a standard.

Quality audits are mostly conducted as an independent, objective review rather than as an internal review by members of the project team. Generally, quality audits use recognized standards against which performance is measured.

Q.	One of the tools used by a quality audit team is:
		A.	Trick questions
		B.	Checklists
		C.	Status Reports
		D.	None of the above

The answer is B, Checklists. This ensures that the audit will cover all areas of concern in a standard manner for every project.

The outputs from Perform Quality Assurance are Requested Changes, Recommended Corrective Actions, Organizations Process Assets Updates, and Project Management Plan Updates. As can be seen from the outputs described, Quality Assurance involves continuous improvement rather than a one-time effort.

Q.	The idea for continuous improvement in quality is a theme of:
		A.	TQM
		B.	Deming
		C.	Crosby
		D.	All of the above

The answer is D, all of the above. Actually, all three were very clear on the importance of continual improvement of quality by any organization.