CAST Ch 9

Question 1

Calibration

Answer 1

This indicates the movement of a measure so it becomes more valid, for example, changing a customer survey so it better reflects the true opinions of the customer.

Question 2

Cause and Effect Diagrams

Answer 2

A cause and effect diagram visualizes results of brainstorming and affinity grouping through major causes of a significant process problem.

Question 3

Check Sheets

Answer 3

A check sheet is a technique or tool to record the number of occurrences over a specified interval of time; a data sample to determine the frequency of an event.

Question 4

Control Charts

Answer 4

A statistical technique to assess, monitor and maintain the stability of a process. The objective is to monitor a continuous repeatable process and the process variation from specifications. The intent of a control chart is to monitor the variation of a statistically stable process where activities are repetitive.

Question 5

Ease of Use and Simplicity

Answer 5

These are functions of how easy it is to capture and use the measurement data.

Question 6

Histogram

Answer 6

A graphical description of individually measured values in a data set that is organized according to the frequency or relative frequency of occurrence. A histogram illustrates the shape of the distribution of individual values in a data set along with information regarding the average and variation.

Question 7

Measures

Answer 7

A unit to determine the dimensions, quantity, or capacity (e.g., lines of code are a measure of software size).

Question 8

Metric

Answer 8

A software metric is a mathematical number that shows a relationship between two measures.

Question 9

Objective Measures

Answer 9

An objective measure is a measure that can be obtained by counting.

Question 10

Pareto Charts

Answer 10

A special type of bar chart to view the causes of a problem in order of severity: largest to smallest based on the 80/20 premise.

Question 11

Reliability

Answer 11

This refers to the consistency of measurement. Two different individuals take the same measurement and get the same result. The measure is reliable.

Question 12

Run Chart

Answer 12

A run chart is a graph of data (observation) in chronological order displaying shifts or trends in the central tendency (average). The data represents measures, counts or percentages of outputs from a process (products or services).

Question 13

Subjective Measures

Answer 13

A person’s perception of a product or activity.

Question 14

Timeliness

Answer 14

This refers to whether the data was reported in sufficient time to impact the decisions needed to manage effectively

Question 15

Validity

Answer 15

This indicates the degree to which a measure actually measures what it was intended to measure.