Ch. 8: Managing Project Quality

Question 1

Comparing any two similar entities to measure their performance.

Answer 1

Benchmarking

Question 2

These diagrams show the relation between the variables within a process and how those relations may contribute to inadequate quality. They can help organize both the process and team opinions, as well as generate discussion on finding a solution to ensure quality.

Answer 2

Cause-and-effect diagrams

Question 3

A simple approach to ensure that work is completed according to the quality policy.

Answer 3

Checklist

Question 4

A quality control chart that maps the performance of project work overtime.

Answer 4

Control chart

Question 5

This is the cost associated with not satisfying the quality expectations. This is also known as the cost of nonconformance to quality.

Answer 5

Cost of poor quality

Question 6

This is the cost associated with the monies spent to ascertain the expected level of quality. This is also
known as the cost of conformance to quality.

Answer 6

Cost of quality

Question 7

A process to study the tradeoffs between costs and the benefits realized from those costs.

Answer 7

Cost-benefit analysis

Question 8

An approach that relies on statistical scenarios to determine what variables within a project will result in the best outcome.

Answer 8

Design of experiments

Question 9

Assurance provided to the external customers of the project.

Answer 9

External QA

Question 10

A diagram illustrating how components within a system are related. Flowcharts show the relation between
components, as well as help the project team determine where quality issues may be present and, once done, plan
accordingly.

Answer 10

Flowchart

Question 11

Assurance provided to management and the project team.

Answer 11

Internal QA

Question 12

The abbreviation for the International Organization for Standardization. ISO is Greek for equal, while “International
Organization for Standardization” would be abbreviated differently in different language. The organization elected to use
ISO for all languages.

Answer 12

ISO

Question 13

A histogram that illustrates categories of failure within a project.

Answer 13

Pareto diagram

Question 14

A project management subsidiary plan that aims to improve the project, not just the end
result of the project. It strives to identify and eliminate waste and non-value-added activities.

Answer 14

Process improvement plan

Question 15

According to ASQ, it is the degree to which a set of inherent characteristics fulfills requirements.

Answer 15

Quality

Question 16

A management process that defines the quality system or quality policy that a project must adhere to.
QA aims to plan quality into the project rather than inspect quality into a deliverable.

Answer 16

Quality assurance

Question 17

An inspection-driven process that measures work results to confirm that the project is meeting the relevant
quality standards.

Answer 17

Quality control

Question 18

The operational definitions that specify the measurements within a project and the expected targets for
quality and performance.

Answer 18

Quality metrics

Question 19

The process of first determining which quality standards are relevant to your project and then finding out
the best methods of adhering to those quality standards.

Answer 19

Quality planning

Question 20

A component of a control chart that illustrates the results of seven measurements on one side of the mean,
which is considered “out of control” in the project.

Answer 20

Rule of Seven

Question 21

A quality control tool that shows the results of inspection in the order in which they’ve occurred. The goal of a run chart is to first demonstrate the results of a process over time and then use trend analysis to predict when certain trends may reemerge.

Answer 21

Run chart

Question 22

A quality control tool that tracks the relationship between two variables over time. The two variables are considered related the closer they track against a diagonal line.

Answer 22

Scatter diagram

Question 23

A process of choosing a percentage of results at random. For example, a project creating a medical device may have 20 percent of all units randomly selected to check for quality.

Answer 23

Statistical sampling

Question 24

These flowcharts illustrate the flow of a process through a system, such as a project change request through the change control system or work authorization through a quality control process.

Answer 24

System or process flowcharts

Question 25

This plan defines how the project team will implement and fulfill the quality policy of the performing organization.

Answer 25

Quality management plan

Question 26

The science of using past results to predict future performance.

Answer 26

Trend analysis

Question 27

The results of the project work as needed. This includes technical performance measures, project status, information on what the project has created to date, corrective actions, and performance reports.

Answer 27

Work performance information