Project Quality Management

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this course about? In this course, a media-rich simulation immerses you in a challenging and realistic project environment. Through experiential and PC-based activities, you develop and apply a quality framework using the necessary tools and techniques to deliver consistent project success. At the end of the course, have access to project quality tools and templates for use back at your job. How is this course structured? This course is structured around a dynamic style of learning created by Learning Tree called RealityPlusTM - an immersive experience that engages you in authentic tasks within a simulated real-world context. Through media-rich case studies, role playing, and video/computer-based activities, you are immersed throughout the course in an evolving scenario where the decisions you make affect the outcome of the simulation. The RealityPlus learning method is presented in a safe environment where you gain new skills and practice the most effective techniques to bring back to your job. At the end of your course, you are prepared to immediately and successfully apply these new skills within your organization! Who will benefit from this course? This course is valuable for anyone who manages and participates in projects. Typical participants include team leaders and team members, managers, systems integrators, analysts, testers and others who want to ensure quality and customer satisfaction in their projects. What background do I need? Basic knowledge of project concepts at the level of Course 296, Project Management: Skills for Success, or Course 340, Project Management for Software Development, is helpful. For example, it is helpful to understand the phases of the project life cycle: initiating, planning, executing, controlling and closing. What specific skills will I learn in this class? This course provides you with control tools, diagraming techniques and statistical measures to maintain a high level of quality within your projects. A brief overview of the ISO 9001:2000, Software Engineering Institutes (SEI) Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI), and PRINCE2TM will be presented to demonstrate how they work within the project cycle. Why do I need this course? The majority of projects fail because of a skewed focus on time, cost or quality. This course equips you with tools and techniques to solve these common problems. You learn to balance quality objectives along with time and cost constraints. This results in improved organizational processes and ultimately leads to customer satisfaction. Does this course primarily focus on technical projects? No. The concepts covered in this course apply to all project types, such as business reengineering, office relocation, product development, regulatory and security, in addition to technical projects. Most of my projects are [small][large][complex]. Will this course still apply? Absolutely! This course covers specific techniques that you can tailor to your particular project environment. All projects, regardless of size and complexity, benefit from the ideas discussed and techniques acquired in this course. How is this course different from Course 312? Course 312, Software Quality Assurance: Delivering Consistent Quality, focuses specifically on software development projects while this course (Course 349) focuses on managing quality within the context of a project. The techniques learned in this course can be applied to a wide variety of project types. My organization doesn't have a formal project management methodology. How will this course apply to us? In this course, you develop a methodology for project quality management that you can apply to your organization. You learn how to obtain management and team buy-in, commitment and ownership. You also learn to adhere to organizational quality initiatives. How much time is spent on each topic? Content Hours Overview of quality management skills 1.5 Building a project quality environment 2.0 Developing a project quality management plan 3.0 Establishing quality assurance strategies 4.0 Implementing quality assurance recommendations 3.0 Designing project quality control gates 1.0 Selecting QC tools and techniques 2.5 Finalizing the QMP 1.0 Times, including the workshops, are estimates; exact times may vary according to the needs of each class. What kinds of activities are covered in the workshops? Through a media-rich simulation, you implement effective project quality management best practices. Experiential and PC-based activities include: Assessing your project quality management skills Performing an analysis of stakeholder quality expectations Developing the project scope statement Incorporating the scope statement into the Quality Management Plan (QMP) Composing the major elements of the QMP using co-creation techinques Designing and specifying Quality Assurance Gates and Quality Control Gates Practicing quality assurance tools selection Analyzing and responding to quality assurance reports Facilitating a cause-and-effect analysis of a nonconformance Deploying QMP concepts on a simulated project Is this course applicable to a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification? Yes. Although this course is not designed as preparation for the exam, it is beneficial to anyone working toward PMI's PMP certification. For those who are currently certified, completion of this course counts as 17 professional development units (60 units must be completed every three years to maintain certification). For more details, please see the Learning Tree PMI Registered Education Provider Q&A. If you are an experienced project manager intending to take the PMP exam, you should take Course 276, Preparing for the Project Management Professional (PMP®) Exam. In this course you learn essential PMBOK® Guide terminology, tools and techniques. You gain practical test-taking experience through PMI-style practice exams and create your own personal study plan for continued use after the course. Is this course aligned with PMI's definition of project quality management? Yes. This course goes above and beyond the project quality management chapter of the PMBOK. How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses? Additional Learning Tree courses that may be of interest to you include: 296, Project Management: Skills for Success teaches principles and best practice of running a broad range of projects. 340, Project Management for Software Development  focuses on the unique aspects of software development projects. 287, Strategic Project Management: Achieving Organizational Goals builds on the techniques required for the successful management of complex projects. 286, Project Risk Management offers the knowledge and skills needed to identify, plan for and manage risk as an essential factor in any project. 315, Developing User Requirements: The Key to Project Success examines the importance of obtaining accurate and quantifiable requirements for project success. 312, Software Quality Assurance: Delivering Consistent Quality  provides the skills you need to define, design and implement a practical quality assurance strategy. 316, Software Testing Foundation: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction  provides a thorough understanding of testing and inspection approaches, techniques and tools. 284, Critical Thinking and Creative Problem Solving enhances your skills as a critical thinker and problem solver. You learn to leverage your personal thinking preferences, and those of others, using techniques based on cutting-edge, whole-brain technologies. 344, Effective Time Management offers strategies, techniques and tips to help you set priorities and manage the daily pressures of a busy lifestyle. 289, Disaster Recovery Planning: Ensuring Business Continuity provides practical experience designing, developing and testing a disaster recovery plan.

The PMI R.E.P. logo is a registered mark of the Project Management Institute, Inc. RealityPlus is a trademark of Learning Tree International. PRINCE2™ is a Trade Mark of the Office of Government Commerce. PMBOK is a registered trademark of the Project Management Institute, Inc.