Module 9: Mobilizing and Tailoring the PRINCE2 Quality Practice

Lesson 1:  9.1 The Quality Practice

You will learn how the PRINCE2 quality method includes systematic activities to explicitly confirm the user’s quality expectations and acceptance criteria for the project products in the project product description and identify the project products to the level at which the project can exert control The PRINCE2 quality method believes that quality should be built into everything; not just tested at the end of the project You will grasp how the quality method includes systematic activities to determine the quality specifications by which they will be assessed, the quality techniques to be used in checking their quality, and the quality responsibilities of those involved including definition of project products in product descriptions, and learn how to implement and track the quality techniques employed throughout the project

Members Only 9.2 Quality Terminology

You will learn the purpose of the quality practice, the key PRINCE2 quality definition and terminology overview of quality planning, control, and assurance, going on to grasp the quality concepts of quality requirements, acceptance criteria, quality specifications, and users’ quality expectations.

Members Only 9.3 The Product-based Planning Approach

You will learn how the PRINCE2 Product-based quality approach to requirements to aims to translate those requirements into acceptance criteria and quality specifications for project products and the work activities needed to deliver them The product-based quality management approach ensures clear traceability of quality specifications and quality controls to the required products, thereby avoiding conflicts over unmet user quality expectations

Members Only 9.4 The Quality Management Technique

You will learn the PRINCE2 three-step quality management technique (planning quality, controlling quality, and accepting products) is integrated around the principle of focusing on products covering quality planning, quality control and quality assurance

Members Only 9.5 The Project Product Description

You will learn how the project product description (covering all the major products to be delivered, their intended purpose including the user’s quality expectations, the acceptance criteria, and acceptance methods for the project), is created in the starting up a project process and refined during the initiating a project process

Members Only 9.6 The Quality Management Approach

You will learn how the quality management approach (part of the project initiation documentation), describes the quality standards and procedures that will be followed, the tools and techniques to be used, the reporting and record keeping arrangements, and the roles and responsibilities for the quality management activities to achieve the required quality specifications and acceptance criteria during a project. You will also grasp both quantitative and qualitative measures, and the differences between functional and non-functional requirements

Members Only 9.7 Creating Product Descriptions - Part ONE

You will learn how the requirements in the project product description are typically stated at a high level and must be developed in further detail to enable accurate estimation and planning To avoid confusion and potential conflicts, the quality responsibilities for a product should be specified in the product description You will grasp how quality responsibilities are dealt with in subordinate plans, and the application of product sustainability.

Members Only 9.8 Creating Product Descriptions - Part TWO

You will learn how to describe a product description’s purpose, composition, where it is derived from, and its quality specifications, going on to grasp its use within linear projects, agile projects, and their use for Iterative and incremental life cycles.

Members Only 9.9 Quality Control - Part ONE

You will learn the purpose and content of the product register A component of the project log that identifies the products to be delivered by the project and records their acceptance, in addition you will grasp how the product register (which is part of the project log) supports when a product description is approved by the project board, is recorded in the product register and becomes part of the project baseline.

Members Only 9.10 Quality Control - Part TWO

You will learn how when the quality management approach and the initial product descriptions are approved, the quality practice focus shifts to quality control, and such activities are recorded in the quality register, which provides information for end stage reports and the end project report. The individuals or roles responsible for accepting a product are identified in the product description where acceptance usually involves both the review of the product quality control information provided by the project and an independent review of the product against the user’s quality expectations and acceptance criteria. Once accepted, a project product transfers ownership for the product from the project or supplier on behalf of the user.

Members Only 9.11 Quality Management Supporting Techniques

You will gain a full understanding of the types of quality techniques used and how their timing, location, and resource requirements is essential to project planning, and learn that although a wide range of quality techniques exist, the six most used in a project context are, verification, validation, prototyping, testing, inspection and certification.

Members Only 9.12 Quality Context

You will learn how multiple organizations or if part of a program or portfolio is documented in the quality management approach. In addition, you will grasp in a commercial context, how product descriptions and the quality management approach consider commercial agreements during product delivery

Members Only 9.13 Quality Management Delivery Methods

Here you will learn the quality management delivery methods for linear-sequential projects and how this impacts product delivery, and change control aspects, as well as iterative-incremental delivery methods along with the use of sprints, the product backlog, user stories and the minimum viable product.

Members Only 9.14 Quality Sustainability and Scale

Here you will learn how sustainability is a key consideration in describing and specifying the project products and how these address both the organization’s ability to sustain expected benefits after delivery (i.e. a product), and its ability to achieve project and products environmental sustainability Quality management always has a cost, so the goal of an effective quality management approach is to offset the potential product failure costs by an adequate level of quality planning and control, and how overly stringent quality specifications and acceptance criteria can dramatically increase overall project cost

Members Only 9.15 Quality Practice Key Roles

You will learn how the quality practice uses the key roles and responsibilities, and these include the business/commissioning layer, project executive, senior user and supplier roles, project manager, team manager, project assurance, and project support.

Members Only 9.16 Quality Practice Principle Relationships

Here you will learn how the quality practice contributes to the adherence to PRINCE2 principles across the project lifecycle. You will grasp how each of the seven principles are achieved from the quality practice perspective, and as a consequence, the resulting outcomes.