PMP Certification: Control Quality (based on PMBOK® Guide, 6th Edition)

— (updated )
    • WHAT Control Quality Is. Control Quality implies inspecting and reviewing work products to find defects. In case of mismatches between work performance information and quality plan and metrics, a project manager recommends a change. Thus, the problem is either fixed or prevented from happening again.
    • WHY Control Quality Is Important. Control Quality process guarantees that every product and project deliverable meets quality standards. Once compliance with product requirements has been accepted, deliverables may undergo Validate Scope process for customer acceptance.
    • WHEN Control Quality Is Executed. The first product or service developed as part of the project marks the beginning of the Control Quality process, then carried on throughout much of the project.
    • HOW Control Quality Operates.

Project Quality Management (by Process Groups) — PMBOK® Guide, 6th Edition Update

Plan Quality Management

Manage Quality

Control Quality

Click here for a detailed analysis of each project management process group and knowledge area.

pmp 2018 control quality pmbok guide 6th edition tipsographic main

Control Quality 101

What Does Control Quality Involve and When Do You Perform It in a Project Life Cycle?

  • WHAT Control Quality Is. Control Quality implies inspecting and reviewing work products to find defects. In case of mismatches between work performance information and quality plan and metrics, a project manager recommends a change. Thus, the problem is either fixed or prevented from happening again.
  • WHY Control Quality Is Important. Control Quality process guarantees that every product and project deliverable meets quality standards. Once compliance with product requirements has been accepted, deliverables may undergo Validate Scope process for customer acceptance.
  • WHEN Control Quality Is Executed. The first product or service developed as part of the project marks the beginning of the Control Quality process, then carried on throughout much of the project.
  • HOW Control Quality Operates.
InputsTools and techniquesOutputs
  1. Project management plan
    • Quality management plan
  2. Project documents
    • Lessons learned register
    • Quality metrics
    • Test and evaluation documents
  3. Approved change requests
  4. Deliverables
  5. Work performance data
  6. Enterprise environmental factors
  7. Organizational process assets
  1. Data gathering
    • Checklists
    • Check sheets
    • Statistical sampling
    • Questionnaires and surveys
  2. Data analysis
    • Performance reviews
    • Root cause analysis
  3. Inspection
  4. Testing/product evaluations
  5. Data representation
    • Cause-and-effect diagrams
    • Control charts
    • Histogram
    • Scatter diagrams
  6. Meetings
  1. Quality control measurements
  2. Verified deliverables
  3. Work performance information
  4. Change requests
  5. Project management plan updates
    • Quality management plan
  6. Project documents updates
    • Issue log
    • Lessons learned register
    • Risk register
    • Test and evaluation documents

Source: PMBOK® Guide, 6th ed., Chapter 8, section 8.3, p. 298.

Control Quality Key Terms

What Are the Key Terms to Fully Understand the Process of Controlling Quality?

  • Attribute Sampling. Pass-fail testing; notably, a result meets the requirement or does not.
  • Control Limits. The area of variation delimited by three standard deviations either side of the expected mean – set by the process.
  • Inspection. A tool used to search for bugs in requirements and products, by physically looking at, measuring, or testing results.
  • pmp certification 2018 kit free online course tipsographicQuality Control Measurements. The physical representations of the measurements taken during control quality activities.
  • Tolerance. The range of acceptable results – set by the customer.
  • Validated Changes. Approved change requests that have been implemented correctly.
  • Variable Sampling. The degree to which a result meets a requirement on a continuous scale.
  • Verified Deliverables. A deliverable that has met the expected quality requirements and standards, as verified during the process of inspection.

Control Quality Tips

What Are the Best Tips to Answer Correctly the PMP Certification Exam Questions on Control Quality Process?

  • Control Quality Vs. Validate Scope. Even if both processes measure deliverables, Control Quality process – verification – is performed internally and the customer may accept a product that failed it, as part of validating scope. On the other hand, Validate Scope process – validation – is performed by the customer and, this time, the latter may decide not to accept a product that passed control quality.
  • Rule of Seven. Any time seven data points in a row fall on the same side of the mean on a control chart, the process is not random. Henceforth, a project manager needs to find the cause of the variation.
  • Seven Basic Quality Tools. For the PMP exam, it is paramount to master why a project manager would choose one of these tools over the others.

Click here for a detailed analysis of each project management process group and knowledge area.

SOURCES: Project Management Institute (2017). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide). 6th ed. Newtown Square: Project Management Institute.

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