Chapter 8 - Managing Project Quality

Question 1

Activity network diagram

Answer 1

These diagrams, such as the project network diagram, show the flow of the project work.

Question 2

Affinity diagram

Answer 2

This diagram breaks down ideas, solutions, causes, and project components and groups them together with other similar ideas and components.

Question 3

Benchmarking

Answer 3

Comparing two similar entries to measure their performance.

Question 4

Cause-and-effect diagrams

Answer 4

Diagrams that show the relationship between variables within a process and how those relationships may contribute to inadequate quality. The diagrams can help organize both the process and team opinions, as well as generate discussion on finding a solution to ensure quality.

Question 5

Checklist

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Control chart

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Cost of conformance

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Cost of nonconformance to quality

Answer 8

The cost associated with not satisfying quality expectations. This is also known as the cost of poor quality.

Question 9

Cost-benefit analysis

Answer 9

A process to study the trade-offs between costs and the benefits realized from those costs.

Question 10

Design of experiments

Answer 10

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

Question 11

External QA

Answer 11

Assurance provided to the external customers of the project.

Question 12

Flowchart

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Internal QA

Answer 13

Assurance provided to management and the project team.

Question 14

Interrelationship diagraphs

Answer 14

Used for complex solutions where the causes and effects of problems and benefits are intertwined with one another.

Question 15

ISO

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Matrix diagram

Answer 16

A data analysis table that shows the strength between variables and relationships in the matrix.

Question 17

Pareto diagram

Answer 17

A histogram that illustrates and ranks categories of failure within a project.

Question 18

Prioritization matrices

Answer 18

A table to rank and score project decisions and alternatives to determine the best solution for the project.

Question 19

Process decision program chart (PDPC)

Answer 19

Helps the project team define all of the steps to get from the current state to a desired goal. It facilitates a conversation about what must be completed to reach the goal.

Question 20

Process improvement plan

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

Quality

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Quality assurance

Answer 22

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 to inspect quality into a deliverable.

Question 23

Quality control

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Quality management plan

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Quality metrics

Answer 25

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

Question 26

Quality planning

Answer 26

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.

Question 27

Rule of Seven

Answer 27

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.

Question 28

Run chart

Answer 28

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 first to demonstrate the results of a process over time and then to use trend analysis to predict when certain trends may reemerge.

Question 29

Scatter diagram

Answer 29

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.

Question 30

Seven basic quality tools

Answer 30

These seven tools are used in quality planning and in quality control: cause-and-effect diagrams, flowcharts, check sheets, Pareto diagrams, histograms, control charts, and scatter diagrams.

Question 31

Statistical sampling

Answer 31

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.

Question 32

System or process flowcharts

Answer 32

Flowcharts that 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.

Question 33

Tree diagram

Answer 33

Tress diagrams show the hierarchies and decomposition of a solution, an organization, or a project team. The WBS and an organization chart are examples of tree diagrams.

Question 34

Trend analysis

Answer 34

The science of using past results to predict future performance.

Question 35

Work performance information

Answer 35

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.