Project quality management provides a wide structure to identify quality standards and requirements, implementing quality assurance and control activities and taking suitable decisions for project improvement. The purpose of this research was to investigate project quality management (QM) planning practiced in Information Technology (IT) projects. Another aim was to determine, a proper quality planning (QP) standard framework that should be implemented in IT projects. A deep investigation was carried out on past and current researches to identify the real QM planning dimensions. Subsequently related questions were developed and surveys were conducted on several organizations. The results revealed that majority of the organizations are not practicing the entire important dimensions in QP phase because of lack awareness among the employees. Overall the best practices or standards in these QM planning should be practiced to maintain quality IT projects.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. QM Planning Standards
1.1 Scope Baseline
1.2 Stakeholder Register
1.3 Cost Performance Baseline
1.4 Schedule Baseline
1.5 Risk Register
1.6 Enterprise Environmental Factors
1.7 Organizational Process Assets
1.8 Training Schedule
2.1 Cost-Benefit Analysis
2.2 Cost of Quality
2.3 Control Charts
2.4 Benchmarking
2.5 Design of Experiments
2.6 Statistical Sampling
2.7 Flowcharting
2.8 Proprietary QM Methodologies
2.9 Additional QP Tools
3.1 QM Plan
3.2 Quality Metrics
3.3 Quality Checklists
3.4 Process Improvement Plan
3.5 Project Document (Updates)
Methodology
Findings & Discussion
Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This research aims to investigate the current state of Project Quality Management (QM) planning within IT projects in Malaysia. The primary goal is to identify common failure factors, determine the extent to which organizations adhere to established quality planning standards, and evaluate the efficacy of current practices in improving project delivery.
- Identification of critical QM planning dimensions in IT environments.
- Evaluation of organizational adherence to Quality Planning (QP) standards.
- Analysis of the relationship between project management practices and IT project success.
- Assessment of the impact of "Training Schedule" as a newly introduced dimension in quality planning.
Excerpt from the Book
QM Planning Standards
This research will primarily focus on adequate QP, as deficiency in planning phase restrains the victory of quality assurance and quality control efforts (Marcia et al., 2009). There are three areas in QP such as Input, Tools & Techniques and Output. A new dimension has been introduced in Input Quality Plan.
Scope Baseline – This is the main input that carries the project description, major deliverables, project requirements and acceptance criteria (increase or decrease cost) (David, 2011). Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) tracks the project deliverables, task allocation and shows accountable people for the task to measure project performance (Lagerström et al., 2012).
1.2 Stakeholder Register – This document helps in recognizing stakeholders (Nelson et al., 2012) with same interest or proficiency in the requirements of particular products, as well as those with knowledge in quality encouraged to collaborate in the QP process (David, 2011; Barney et al., 2008).
1.3 Cost Performance Baseline – It is a known fact that quality and scope are closely aligned. Therefore any minor or major changes to the scope, has to be evaluated against the budget and the schedule (David, 2011).
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides an overview of the significance of software quality management and its role in balancing cost, time, and project risks.
QM Planning Standards: Details the essential components of the Input, Tools & Techniques, and Output areas of the Quality Planning process, including the introduction of a Training Schedule.
Methodology: Outlines the research design, which employs both qualitative and quantitative approaches via questionnaires to assess project quality management practices.
Findings & Discussion: Analyzes the survey data collected from IT professionals, highlighting correlations between project experience and quality planning awareness.
Conclusion: Synthesizes the research findings, emphasizing that failures often stem from a lack of focus on the quality planning phase and advocating for the institutionalization of quality standards.
Keywords
Project Quality Management, IT Projects, Quality Planning, Software Development, Quality Assurance, Quality Control, PMBOK, Training Schedule, Stakeholder Management, Process Improvement, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Organizational Process Assets, Project Management, Software Quality Standards, Defect Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper primarily investigates Project Quality Management (QM) planning practices within the IT sector, specifically identifying how quality planning (QP) standards are currently implemented in organizations.
What are the central thematic areas of the study?
The study revolves around three key domains of the QP process: Input (resources and documentation), Tools & Techniques (methods for quality analysis), and Output (deliverables and plans).
What is the primary research objective?
The main objective is to identify why software projects often fail by examining the quality planning phase and to propose a framework that includes important dimensions like the 'Training Schedule'.
What scientific methodology does the research employ?
The research uses a mixed-methods approach, combining literature reviews with quantitative surveys distributed among IT departments, utilizing a Likert scale for data collection and SPSS for analysis.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body details specific inputs like the Scope Baseline and Risk Register, various tools such as Benchmarking and Control Charts, and the resulting outputs like the Quality Management Plan.
How would you characterize the keywords of this research?
The keywords highlight the intersection of technical software development and management disciplines, focusing on standardized quality frameworks and human factors like training.
Why was the 'Training Schedule' dimension introduced?
It was introduced to address the modern perception of human aspects in project management, helping organizations track employee expertise as a critical component of project quality.
What does the research conclude regarding management's role?
The research concludes that without strong management support and a clear understanding of quality dimensions, individual project leads struggle to enforce quality standards effectively.
- Quote paper
- Kanchanah Monoharan (Author), Dr. Zulkefli Bin Mansor (Author), 2012, Project Quality Management Planning Practices in IT Projects, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/201174
