Quality Knowledge Area PMI Westchester Quality SIG -Best Practices- September 2007

Objectives The objective of our first 2007 Quality SIG meeting is as follows: To review PMI Quality Management Knowledge Area topics for the whole year using a calendar of topics (see next slide) To agree on covering the recommended quality component topics: quality planning, quality assurance, and quality control To agree on the tools, techniques, and processes to be used with the quality components

Calendar Month Topic Description Tools/Techniques Presenter September 07 Quality Management Plan --Plan --Calendar --Action items Linda P. Dowdell October 07 Quality Planning Criteria driven Overview November 07 Tools December 07 Techniques January 08 Quality Assurance Prevention driven February 08 March 08 April 08 Quality Control Inspection driven May 08 June 08

Quality and Quality Management Quality is about satisfying defined customer’s requirements -- conformance to the customer requirement’s specifications. Quality Management is about understanding and meeting the customer’s requirements through a comprehensive quality management plan that addresses the process and product aspects of projects.

Quality Management Plan A Quality Management Plan communicates the plan that will be used to ensure project quality. A Quality Management Plan should describe the three areas of work that are associated with the PMI process groups: Quality Planning – PMI Planning Quality Assurance – PMI Executing Quality Control – PMI Controlling

Process and Product Management Quality Management has a process and a product side. Process management deals with best practice tools, processes and techniques used in managing a project. The quality expectation is to run a project in accordance to a standard project lifecycle, and one that is planned, managed and executed using best practice tools and techniques.

Process and Product Management (cont.) Product management deals with the management of scope (requirements), time (schedule), and cost (budget) used in managing the products and services of a project. The quality expectation is to have the product or services delivered within scope, time and cost

Quality Management Components Over the course of the year, we will be covering several topics -- all in relation to these major components: Quality Planning Quality Assurance Quality Control

Components and Elements

Quality Planning – Criteria Driven Quality planning is the stage used to identify the quality criteria that are relevant to the project and to plan how to satisfy them. It lays out the roles and responsibilities, resources, procedures, and processes to be utilized for quality control and quality assurance.

Quality Assurance – Prevention driven Quality Assurance is about utilizing all the elements defined in quality planning that are needed to meet the customer’s requirements. Quality Assurance is a continuous process improvement. Quality Assurance involves managing the quality of the project deliverables. It refers to the actual testing of product components and the entire product before and during delivery.

Quality Control – Inspection driven Quality Control is about ensuring that the products and services of the project comply with relevant quality standards and about eliminating the causes of unsatisfactory performance. It is the ongoing quality management and review of the process of doing the work of the project during its life cycle.

Tools and Techniques The following are some of the tools and techniques that we may review throughout the year during our monthly sessions, which we should align to the three quality components: Tools Risk Register Scope Statement Communications Plan

Tools and Techniques (cont.) Checklists – mark off what is been done Phase reviews -- gateways Other – management involvement, etc.

Quality and Risk Management We will review quality and risk management because of the relationship that exists between these two knowledge areas: Proper quality planning can lower risks.

Quality Planning Best Practices We will determine the elements that will be used to evaluate quality: Priorities: scope, time, cost Scope statement Success criteria Project metrics toward project quality management

Quality Assurance Best Practices We will determine the elements that will be used for quality assurance: Continuous process improvement: process analysis, removing non-value activities, etc. Prevention: prevention activities before problems occur Benchmark quality: establish a baseline

Quality Control Best Practices We will determine the elements that will be used for quality control: Inspection: e.g. PM and team to inspect work Scope verification: to ensure product is of good quality.

Contact Information Linda P. Dowdell, PMP, MBA, MS Dowdell Consulting Services, LLC www.mypmtools.com A Project Management Services Company 914-874-4343 Public Relations Program Manager & Quality Chair for The Project Management Institute Westchester