Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Process and Product Quality Assurance: Specific Practices by Goal SG1

SG 1 Objectively Evaluate Processes and Work Products
Adherence of the performed process and associated work products and services to applicable process descriptions, standards, and procedures is objectively evaluated.


SP 1.1 Objectively Evaluate Processes
Objectively evaluate the designated performed processes against the applicable process descriptions, standards, and procedures.
Objectivity in quality assurance evaluations is critical to the success of the project. A description of the quality assurance reporting chain and how it ensures objectivity should be defined.


Typical Work Products
1. Evaluation reports
2. Noncompliance reports
3. Corrective actions

Subpractices
1. Promote an environment (created as part of project management) that encourages employee participation in identifying and reporting quality issues.

2. Establish and maintain clearly stated criteria for the evaluations.
The intent of this subpractice is to provide criteria, based on business needs, such as the following:
· What will be evaluated
· When or how often a process will be evaluated
· How the evaluation will be conducted
· Who must be involved in the evaluation


3. Use the stated criteria to evaluate performed processes for adherence to process descriptions, standards, and procedures.

4. Identify each noncompliance found during the evaluation.

5. Identify lessons learned that could improve processes for future products and services.


SP 1.2 Objectively Evaluate Work Products and Services
Objectively evaluate the designated work products and services against the applicable process descriptions, standards, and procedures.


Typical Work Products
1. Evaluation reports
2. Noncompliance reports
3. Corrective actions

Subpractices
1. Select work products to be evaluated, based on documented sampling criteria if sampling is used.
2. Establish and maintain clearly stated criteria for the evaluation of work products.
The intent of this subpractice is to provide criteria, based on business needs, such as the following:
· What will be evaluated during the evaluation of a work product
· When or how often a work product will be evaluated
· How the evaluation will be conducted
· Who must be involved in the evaluation
3. Use the stated criteria during the evaluations of work products.
4. Evaluate work products before they are delivered to the customer.
5. Evaluate work products at selected milestones in their development.
6. Perform in-progress or incremental evaluations of work products and services against process descriptions, standards, and procedures.

7. Identify each case of noncompliance found during the evaluations.
8. Identify lessons learned that could improve processes for future products and services.