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1. Introduction

In this next series of posts on memorizing the processes, we move on to the final step 6, which is memorizing the INPUTS & OUTPUTS associated with each of the 47 processes.   In order to breakdown the memorization into more bite-size chunks, I am breaking down the processes in the 10 knowledge areas into 2 or 3 posts each.

This post covers chapter 8 of the PMBOK® Guide, which covers the Quality Knowledge Area. This knowledge area contains 3 processes, one of which is in the Planning Process Group, one of which is in the Executing Process Group and the last of which is in the Monitoring & Controlling Process Group.

(I am splitting the discussion of the Inputs & Outputs into three different posts, each one covering one of the processes.   This post will cover Processes 8.1 Plan Quality Management.)

 

2.   Review of process 8.1 Plan Quality Management with ITTOs

As a reminder, Plan Quality Management is the process of putting together the Quality Management Plan, which gives guidelines as to all of the other quality processes that will be done in the course of the project.

Process Name	Tools & Techniques	Inputs	Outputs
8.1 Plan Quality Management	1. Cost-benefit analysis 2. Cost of quality 3. Seven basic quality tools 4. Benchmarking 5. Design of experiments 6. Statistical sampling 7. Additional quality planning tools 8. Meetings	1. Project management plan 2. Stakeholder register 3. Risk register 4. Requirements documentation 5. EEFs 6. OPAs	1. Quality management plan 2. Process improvement plan 3. Quality metrics 4. Quality checklists 5. Project documents updates

3.  Outputs of process 8.1

a. Quality management plan

Describes how the organization’s quality policies will be implemented on the project, and how the project management team plans to meet the quality requirements set for the project.

b. Process improvement plan

This is a subsidiary management plan that is included in the project management plan.    It contains the following elements:

• Process boundaries (describes purpose of the process, the start and the end of the process, its inputs and outputs, the process owner, and the stakeholders of the process)
• Process configuration (graphical depiction of processes)
• Process metrics (control limits, allows analysis of process efficiency)
• Targets for improved performance (guides process improvement activities)

c. Quality metrics

Describes a project or product attribute and how the quality control process will measure it, usually in terms of a measurement and a tolerance (the allowable variations to the metric).    Typical quality metrics include:   defect frequency, failure rate, on-time performance.

d. Quality checklists

Used to verify that a set of required steps has been performed.   Quality checklists should incorporate the acceptance criteria included in the scope baseline.

e. Project documents updates

These include

• Stakeholder register
• Responsibility assignment matrix (from Human Resources Management)
• WBS and WBS Dictionary

4.  Inputs of process 8.1

a. Project management plan

One of the inputs to the process of 8.1 Plan Quality Management are the performance baselines for the project, namely the

• Scope baseline (consisting of the project scope statement, the WBS, and the WBS dictionary)–product scope often contains of technical issues and other concerns that can affect quality planning; contains acceptance criteria whose definition may affect quality costs
• Schedule baseline–documents accepted schedule performance measures, including start and finish dates
• Cost baseline–documents the accepted time interval used to measure cost performance

b. Stakeholder register

Helps identify those stakeholders with a particular interest in or impact on quality.

c. Risk register

Contains information on threats and opportunities that may impact quality requirements.

d. Requirements documentation

Captures the requirements that the project shall meet pertaining to stakeholder expectations, both project (including product) and quality requirements.

e.  EEFs

The EEFs used as inputs to this process include:

• Governmental agency regulations
• Rules, standards, guidelines specific to application area
• Working or operating conditions of the projects or its deliverables that may affect product quality
• Cultural perceptions that may influence expectations about quality

f.   OPAs

The OPAs used as inputs to this process include:

• Organizational quality policies, procedures, guidelines
• Historical databases and lessons learned from previous projects

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