iQMS for IT

Question 1

What is it aim for iQMS for it?

Answer 1

It aims to orient associates on iQMS and validate their knowledge of the performance management tool to simplify and streamline complex management processes and improv end-to-end productivity.

Question 2

What is the purpose and what are the constituents of iQMS?

Answer 2

iQMS is one global standard for processes enabling excellence across the organization. It defines a way of working in TCS.
It is benchmarked with relevant industry standards and models.
It defines to execute different types of projects to meet and exceed customer needs and expectations leading to a delighted customer.
It also defines processes for support functions such as internal IS administration, human resources, information resources Center and so on.

Question 3

What are the four pillars of iQMS that incorporates the collective wisdom of TCS?

Answer 3

1. Policies
2. Life cycle processes.
3. Procedures.
4. Enablers which are guidelines, standards, checklists, and templates.

Question 4

What are policies?

Answer 4

They are a set of principles to guide decisions and achieve outcomes.

Question 5

What are the policies available in iQMS?

Answer 5

Quality policy
Security policy
Environmental sustainability and occupational health and safety policy.
Intellectual property rights policy (IPR)
Privacy policy

Question 6

What do process handbooks cover?

Answer 6

They cover the lifecycle processes for each of the project types in TCS. Process handbooks typically contain the Project Lifecycle phrases, activities, work products / output for different stages of a project.

Question 7

What project types are process handbooks available for?

Answer 7

Development
Application
Operations
Testing
Infrastructure
Support
BPS

Question 8

What procedure manuals for?

Answer 8

They list out the set of procedures that govern a specific functional area like project management, administration, delivery excellence and so on.

Question 9

What are procedures?

Answer 9

They contain a set of activities, person responsible for the activity and the outputs generated.

Question 10

What are some examples of procedure manuals available in iQMS?

Answer 10

Project procedures manual (PPM)
Operational risk management procedures manual (ORM PM)
Subcontracting procedures manual
Admin procedures manual
HR procedures manual

Question 11

What do enablers help you with?

Answer 11

They help you in executing day to day project activities.

Question 12

What are the four types of enablers?

Answer 12

Guidelines, standards, checklists, and templates.

Question 13

Why are some examples of processes of iQMS?

Answer 13

Planning and estimation
Risk management
Reviews and testing
Measurement, monitoring and improvement.
Customer feedback management.

Question 14

How do we initiate a project?

Answer 14

1. Both parties sign the contract after legal review
2. The scope is well defined in the contract. The application should be delivered in 6 months.
3. Meeting with customer is conducted to ensure the engagement is in alignment with a goal/product vision
4. Delivery partner will create one or more projects in the TCS system (project workbench)
5. You now initiate the engagement and project activities to ensure readiness for executing the agreed scope.

Question 15

What are the project initiation activities?

Answer 15

1. Prepare the project plan.
2. Form the team that will deliver the scope in the contract.
3. Conduct a self-check to ascertain the readiness of the engagement using The project star up or PSU checklist.
4. Conduct the project startup meeting with relevant stakeholders and support groups.
5. Discuss your needs with these stakeholders and obtain their commitment.
6. Knowledge officer will share the details of tools, lessons learned, best practices and experts from engagements with similar business domain and technology stack.
7. Get the team trained on the required technologies and business domain.
8. Get the required hardware, software seating arrangements and any other resources for your team.
9. Connect with similar engagements and projects to get inputs.
10. Identify risks associated.
11. Assess readiness of the engagement / project to commence the activities.
12. Finalize the standards and templates to be used.
13. Create the initial product backlog.

Question 16

What is expected when an associate joins a project?

Answer 16

Read the project documents like induction manual, project plan, and standards.
Go through the project knowledge portal, if any.
Understand responsibilities and the scope of work assigned.
Understand how the project will help the customer in achieving their business objectives.
Undergo trainings as per project plan iQMS TM business domain, technology and client specific trainings.
At the end of the induction take an exit test. This could be a quiz, case study, presentation or any other form.

Question 17

Why should you plan?

Answer 17

Planning enables a team to focus on the engagement objectives, product vision, and provides direction.
It helps to develop team understanding of the milestones, release roadmap and deliverables.
It helps to plan activities and organize resources to meet the objectives.

Question 18

What is a project plan?

Answer 18

It is a document which serves as the road map for the project team. It covers the objectives scope of work, product vision, life cycle process, stakeholders details, infrastructure and tools, schedule, communication protocol, performance and quality metrics.

Question 19

At what levels is planning done?

Answer 19

At two levels, project plan and detailed project plan.

Question 20

What is Project schedule or detailed project plan?

Answer 20

The project schedule is derived from the operational process.
The project schedule describes the life cycle phases, the activities that are required to be accomplished, associated resources to perform these activities and its timeframe.

Question 21

What are the steps involved in creating a project schedule?

Answer 21

First define the project deliverables and milestones.
Identify the activities to be completed for each milestone.
Sequence the activities along with start date and end date
Identify activity dependencies and assign activities to team members.

Question 22

What are the various sections of project plan?

Answer 22

Governance plan
Workforce and workplace plan
Engagement details
Project process / operational process
Quality plan
Configuration management plan
Risk management plan.

Question 23

When should you plan?

Answer 23

Planning is not a one-time activity but a continuous activity.
Planning should start before the project activities begin.
Plan should be revisited for updates.

Question 24

How do you monitor progress against the plan?

Answer 24

Prepare / updated project plan
Monitor the progress
Any deviation?
Identify corrective action
Readjust the plan

Question 25

What is estimation?

Answer 25

Estimation is a practice ans diligent work required to answer the question "what is the quantity of work?" before answering the question "how many people do we need to deliver the work?"

Question 26

What does estimation do?

Answer 26

It quantifies work and provides the foundation for determining the effort, cost and time required to deliver the solution or services aiding financial decisions and delivery commitments.

Question 27

Why is estimation required?

Answer 27

It promotes long-term competitiveness and delivery certainty. It enables quantitative impact assessments and associated trade-offs. It provides the reference point for managing changes during execution. It promotes continuous learning and productivity improvements.

Question 28

When should you estimate?

Answer 28

Estimation should be conducted during proposal stage, contract stage, beginning of the engagement to validate the estimates, product increment or sprint planning and changes to Project scope.

Question 29

What should be estimated?

Answer 29

Size Effort Schedule Cost

Question 30

How do you estimate?

Answer 30

Use the available tcs estimation models or industry standard methods to estimate. Estimate every change in scope and engage with your customer. Track estimates versus actuals. Monitor baseline productivity at regular intervals and use for future estimates. Share your lessons for enriching organizational learning towards improving the estimation methods.

Question 31

What is the iEST tool? (Integrated software estimation repository)

Answer 31

It's a central repository of standard estimation models.

Question 32

What does the iEST enable you to do?

Answer 32

Perform project estimations Review estimations Manage estimation versions Perform early or quick estimation at the proposal stage Performation detailed estimation at the various phases of the Project.

Question 33

What is a risk?

Answer 33

It is an uncertain event or a condition that may or may not happen. If it occurs, it has an adverse impact.

Question 34

What are some examples of risks?

Answer 34

Late changes in requirements may result in delayed delivery. Unavailability of experienced skilled resources may result in poor quality deliverables. Failure of infrastructure and network may impact service continuity. Processing how personal information without a valid contractual agreement may result in a privacy violation. Cloud infrastructure without proper security controls in place maybe vulnerable to external threats.

Question 35

What's effective risk management about?

Answer 35

It is about managing uncertainties in your project or business operations through proactive actions. It is done throughout the life cycle to prevent the occurrence of risks and to reduce the undesirable impact.

Question 36

What are the four steps in risk Management?

Answer 36

1. Identify risks. 2. Assess risks. 3. Plan risk response. 4. Monitor risks.