Chapter 21: Project Quality Management as part of Project Execution

Aim: To understand the Perform quality assurance Process

Quality assurance is the process of auditing quality requirements and the results from quality control measurements that are used to ensure the project employs all processes needed to meet requirements. It differs from quality control, which is monitoring specific project results to ensure they meet quality standards.

Exam Watch:

Even though the Perform Quality Assurance is part of the Executing phase and Quality Control is part of Monitoring & controlling, the output of Perform Quality Control is used as an input to Quality Assurance. Don’t get confused here. Both these activities happen hand in hand and the segregation between the Execution and Controlling phases is very slim.

The table below shows the inputs, tools and techniques, and outputs for the perform quality assurance process.

Perform Quality Assurance
Inputs	Tools & Techniques	Outputs
Project management plan Quality metrics Work performance information Quality control measurements	Plan quality and perform quality control tools and techniques Quality audits Process analysis	Organizational process asset updates Change requests Project management plan updates Project document updates

PMI stresses the importance of continuous improvement, which is an iterative process for improving quality. Continuous improvement is an ongoing cycle of process analysis leading to process improvements at which point further process analysis is undertaken. Process analysis is an in-depth look at what processes are being executed, how they are executed, by whom, and related processes.

The benefits of continuous improvement include reduced waste and reduction in non–value-added processes, leading to increased efficiency and effectiveness.

Work performance information is an important input to quality assurance. Work performance information is defined as data on the status of project schedule activities. It can include such items as technical performance measurements, project deliverables status, schedule progress, and costs incurred. This information can be used in audits, quality reviews, and process analysis. Other important inputs to quality assurance include approved change requests and quality control measurements. Approved change requests are any change requests that have been processed through the change management process and approved by the proper authority. Quality control measurements are the results of quality control activities.

Exam Watch:

1. Memorize and understand all the inputs to quality assurance.
2. The tools used in quality planning and quality control can also be used in quality assurance

Along with the tools used in quality planning and quality control, two other tools in quality assurance are quality audits and process analysis. Quality audits are independent reviews to verify compliance with quality standards. For example, a review team looks at control charts to determine if the processes were being controlled properly and if proper actions were taken when processes fell outside control limits. Process analysis supports continuous improvement as explained in the previous section.

Exam Watch:

Root cause analysis is a technique to examine a problem, determine the underlying cause of the problem, and implement corrective action to prevent further occurrence.

The application of quality assurance might result in changes to the project, which take the form of change requests or recommended corrective action. Updates are made to the project management plan and/or organizational process assets.

Prev: Chapter 20

Next: Chapter 22

Important Terms & Definitions - Managing Project Work

Let us wrap up the series on Project Execution by learning the key terms that were covered in the previous set of chapters.

• Corrective actions - Directions for executing the project work to bring expected project performance in conformance with the project management plan. This is an output item of the QA process.
• Perform quality assurance - A process used for ensuring that quality requirements are met.
• Preventive actions - Directions to perform an activity that will reduce the probability of negative consequences associated with project risks. These preventive actions are recommended by the QA process during process analysis.
• Process analysis - A technique used to identify the needed improvements in a process by following the steps outlined in the process improvement plan.
• Process improvement - An iterative method for improving the quality of all processes.
• Procurement - Refers to obtaining (purchasing or renting) products, services, or results from outside the project team to complete the project.
• Procurement management - An execution of a set of processes used to obtain products, services, or results from outside the project team to complete the project.
• Project interfaces - The formal and informal boundaries and relationships among team members, departments, organizations, or functions. An example might be how the development department and the QA department interact with each other while working on the same project.
• Quality - The degree to which the set of characteristics inherent to the product or services offered by the project meet the project requirements.
• Quality audit - A structured and independent review to determine whether project activities comply with the policies processes, and procedures of the project and the performing organization. It verifies the implementation of approved change requests, corrective actions, defect repairs, and preventive actions.

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