P.M. Ch.8: Project Quality Management

Benchmarking

generates ideas for quality improvements by comparing specific project practices or product characteristics to those of other projects or products within or outside performing organization

The Six Sigma approach works best for a project where a quality problem is identified between the current and desired performance.

True

Using Six Sigma principles is an organization-wide commitment and all employees must embrace its principles.

True

Reliability

ability of product or service to perform as expected under normal conditions

Appraisal cost

cost of evaluating processes and their outputs to ensure that project is error-free or within acceptable error range

unit test

done to test each individual component (often a program) to ensure that it is as defect-free as possible

Control chart

graphic display of data that illustrates results of process over time

Conformance to requirements

project's processes and products meet written specifications

Metric

standard measurement in quality management

Executing process of project quality management

subprocess is performing quality assurance

analyze phase of DMAIC tools

- fishbone (Ishikawa diagram)

Juran's 10 steps to quality improvement

1) build awareness of need and opportunity for improvement 2) set goals for improvement 3) organise to reach goals 4) provide training 5) carry out projects to solve problems 6) report progress 7) give recognition 8) communicate results 9) keep score of improvements achieved 10) maintain momentum

Outputs of Planning quality management process of project quality management

1) process involvement plan 2) quality metrics 3) quality checklists

Outputs of monitoring and controlling subprocess of project quality management

1) validated changes 2) validated deliverables

A run chart is a bar graph that depicts data points and their order of occurrence.

False

DeMarco and Lister's study on organizations and productivity found direct correlations between productivity and programming language, years of experience and salary.

False

Customer requirements are an important aspect of quality planning process.

False

Gantt charts cannot be used to aid project quality management

False

Integration testing involves testing of each individual component to ensure that it is defect-free as possible.

False

Only in-house auditors can perform quality audits.

False

Reliability is the ability of a product or service to perform as expected under deviant conditions.

False

Testing is an important stage only at the end of an information technology product development.

False

The design of experiments technique cannot be applied to project management issues such as cost and schedule trade offs.

False

Validated changes and validated deliverables are the outputs of quality assurance process.

False

In TQC, product quality is more important than production rates, and workers are allowed to stop production whenever a quality problem occurs.

True

Six sigma's target for perfection

achieve no more than 3.4 defects, errors, or mistakes per million opportunities

Maintainability

addresses case of performing maintenance on product

Performance

addresses how well a product or service performs the customer's intended use

Defect

any instance where product or service fails to meet customer requirements

normal distribution

bell-shaped curve symmetrical regarding average value of population (data being analyzed)

Statistic sampling

choosing part of population of interest for inspection

Process adjustments

correct(s) or prevent(s) further quality problems based on quality control measurements

external failure cost

cost that relates to all errors not detected and not corrected before delivery to customer

Functionality

degree to which system performs its intended function

Pareto charts

help users to identify vital few contributors that account for most quality problems in a system

CMMI

helps: - integrate traditionally separate organizational functions - set process improvement goals and priorities - provide guidance for quality processes - provide point of reference for appraising current processes

user accpetance testing

independent test performed by end users prior to accepting delivered system

six 9s of quality rule

measure of quality control equal to 1 fault in 1 million opportunities problems

Associated technical tools and techniques of quality management for quality control process

often associated with: 1) Pareto charts 2) quality control charts 3) statistical sampling

Fitness for use

product can be used as it was intended

Rework

refers to action taken to bring rejected items into compliance with product requirements or specifications or other stakeholder expectations

DMAIC

5 phase improvement process used by projects using six sigma principles for quality control

define phase of DMIAC tools

- project charter - description of customer requirements - process maps - VOC data (voice of customer)

ISO 9000

- quality system standard - 3 part - continuous cycle of planning, controlling, and documenting quality in an organization

Quality is free 1979

- written by Crosby - best known for suggesting that organizations strive for zero defects

Deming's 14 points for management

1) create constancy of purpose for improvement of product and service 2) adopt new philosophy 3) cease dependence on mass inspection 4) end practice of awarding business on price tag alone 5) improvement constantly and forever system of product and service 6) institute training 7) institute leadership 8) drive out fear 9) break down barriers between staff areas 10) eliminate slogans, exhortations, and target for workforce 11) eliminate numerical quotas (removing annual rating or merit system) 12 remove barriers to pride of workmanship 13) institute a vigorous program of education and retraining 14) take action to accomplish transformation

Products that are accepted by project stakeholders are considered to be validated deliverables.

True

Project managers are ultimately responsible for quality management on their projects.

True

Quality assurance process involves taking responsibilities for quality throughout project's life

True

Features

system's special characteristics that appeal to users

Design of experiements

technique that helps identify which variables have the most influence on overall outcome of a process

The term sigma means median.

False