Pure PRINCE2 - Quality theme

Question 1

What is the aim of the Quality theme?

Answer 1

The Quality theme ensures the product is fit-for-purpose and meets the customer’s requirements as outlined in the Acceptance Criteria. It defines the product, the quality expectations, how the project will maintain quality standards, how they will meet business requirements and how the quality will be assessed and realised.

Question 2

What are the consequences of the absence of Quality Management?

Answer 2

The absence of QM leads to product acceptance disputes and uncontrolled change.

Question 3

What are the four aspects of good Quality Management?

Answer 3

1. Quality Planning - defining the product in terms of its expected quality and setting up QM frameworks (processes, roles, responsibilities, resources)
2. Quality Control - continual operational checks of product quality against the AC at predetermined dates. These checks should be recorded in the Quality Register
3. Quality Assurance - a party external to the PM team evaluates the quality processes and reports back to the C/P. This role can be absorbed into the PM if needed
4. Project Assurance - internal PM personnel audits quality-related processes to ensure they are correctly implemented.

Question 4

What must a project have in regards to the Quality theme to be PRINCE2-compliant?

Answer 4

To be PRINCE2, a project must:
- Define its QMA and how it is tailored
- Specify the customer expectations, have clear acceptance criteria and quality tolerances
- Maintain good quality-related records
- Use quality-related lessons to adapt the QMA
- Have three management products - a QMA, a Quality Register, and a PPD.
At the end of the project, the customer assesses product quality against the AC, and signs an Acceptance Record if it passes.

Question 5

What is the purpose of the Quality Management Approach (QMA)?

Answer 5

The QMA defines the roles, responsibilities and procedures related to delivering the product at the agreed quality (QM), project QC and QM, and how quality-related activities are recorded.

Question 6

What is the purpose of the Quality Register?

Answer 6

A log of all scheduled and completed Quality checks and related activities, and their outcome.

Usually in PRINCE2, one person is responsible for updating the QR and ensuring the checks occur at the scheduled times.

Question 7

How is quality monitored during a project?

Answer 7

The QR will list scheduled Quality checks and quality review meetings. These quality check meetings have four roles:
1. Chair - manages the meeting & encourages all party consensus. Also creates the minutes
2. Presenter - represents the team that built the product. They will present the product
3. Reviewer - Reviews the product against the AC and quality tolerances
4. Approver - assesses the reviewers findings and approves or rejects the product at the end of the meeting. This role may be merged with Reviewer.
All roles should remain separate to avoid conflicts of interest.

Question 8

What are the benefits of Quality Control meetings?

Answer 8

• Involves all interested parties and helps promote product acceptance across all parties
• Provides confirmation that the product development is on schedule
• Regularly baselines the product for effective and accurate change management
• All stakeholders are given an appreciation of the work of other teams
• Allows more robust and effective leadership
• Builds a quality-focused culture in the organisation
• Regularly assess the product against the end acceptance criteria.

Question 9

What are the four types of follow-up for a Quality Review meeting?

Answer 9

1. Complete - product meets expected quality. Any improvements are submitted as change requests
2. Conditionally complete - product is at expected quality, but a few issues need to be resolved
3. Incomplete - product has major errors and does not meet expected quality. PA and PM are held responsible for this. Findings are passed to the Prod team and another QC meeting is scheduled
4. Off-specification - issues with something that is scoped but not currently in the product or will not be included. With approval from customer, project may continue without corrective action.

Question 10

What are the key responsibilities of the Quality theme?

Answer 10

• PB - approves the QMA and PPD and is responsible for QM as a whole
  
  • PE - confirms the acceptance of products by the customer
  • SU - Provides AC and user acceptance of product
  • SS - approves QM tools and techniques and approves resources
• PM - Responsible for day-to-day QM, prepares the QMA and PPD, and documents customer quality expectations
• TM - Manages QC on behalf of the PM and informs PS of completed quality checks.