Project Management Final

5 whys

a technique in which you repeatedly ask the question "Why?" to help peel away the layers of symptoms that can lead to the root cause of a problem

acceptance decisions

decisions that determine if the products or services produced as part of the project will be accepted or rejected

appraisal cost

the cost of evaluating processes and their outputs to ensure that a project is error-free or within an acceptable error range

benchmarking

a technique used to generate ideas for quality improvements by comparing specific project practices or product characteristics to those of other projects or products within or outside the performing organization

capability maturity model integration (CMMI)

a process improvement approach that provides organizations with the essential elements of effective processes

cause and effect diagram

a diagram that traces complaints about quality problems back to the responsible production operations to help find the root cause; also known as a fishbone diagram or Ishikawa diagram

checksheet

a technique used to collect and analyze data; sometimes called a tally sheet or checklist

conformance

delivering products that meet requirements and fitness for use

conformance to requirements

project processes and products that meet written specifications

control chart

a graphic display of data that illustrates the results of a process over time

cost of conformance

taking responsibility for failures or not meeting quality expectations

cost of quality

the cost of conformance plus the cost of nonconformance

defect

any instance in which the product or service fails to meet customer requirements

design of experiments

a quality technique that helps identify which variables have the most influence on the overall outcome of a process

DMAIC (define, measure, analyze, improve, control)

a systematic, closed loop process for continued improvement that is scientific and fact based

external failure cost

a cost related to all errors that are not detected and corrected before delivery to the customer

features

the special characteristics that appeal to users

fishbone diagram

a diagram that traces complaints about quality problems back to the responsible production operations to help find the root cause; also known as cause and effect diagram or ishikawa diagram

fitness for use

a product that can be used as it was intended

flowchart

a graphic display of the logic and flow of processes that helps you analyze how problems occur and how processes can be improved

functionality

the degree to which a system performs its intended function

histogram

a bar graph of a distribution of variables

integration testing

testing that occurs between unit and system testing to test functionally grouped components and ensure that a subset or subsets of the entire system work together

internal failure cost

a cost incurred to correct an identified defect before the customer receives the product

ishikawa diagram

a diagram that traces complaints about quality problems back to the responsible production operations to help find the root cause; also known as a cause and effect diagram or fishbone diagram

ISO 9000

a quality system standard developed by the international organization for standardization (ISO) that includes a three part, continuous cycle of planning, controlling, and documenting quality in an organization

kaizen

the japanese word for improvement or change for the better; an approach used for continuously improving quality in organizations

lean

an approach for improving quality that involves evaluating processes to maximize customer value while minimizing waste

maintainability

the ease of performing maintenance on a project

malcolm balridge national quality award

an award starting in 1987 to recognize companies that have achieved a level of world class competition through quality management

maturity model

a framework for helping organizations improve their processes and systems

mean

the average value of a population

measurement and test equipment costs

the capital cost of equipment used to perform prevention and appraisal activities

metric

standard of measurement

normal distribution

a bell shaped curve that is symmetrical about the mean of the population

pareto analysis

identifying the vital few contributors that account for most quality problems in a system

pareto chart

a histogram that helps identify and prioritize problem areas

performance

how well a product or service performs the customer's intended use

prevention cost

the cost of planning and executing a project so that it is error free or within an acceptable error range

process adjustments

adjustments made to correct or prevent further quality problems based on quality control measurements

project quality management

ensuring that a project will satisfy the needs for which it was undertaken

quality

the totality of characteristics of an entity that bear on its ability to satisfy stated or implied needs or the degree to which a set of inherent characteristics fulfill requirements

quality assurance

periodic evaluation of overall project performance to ensure that the project will satisfy the relevant quality standards

quality audit

a structured review of specific quality management activities that helps identify lessons learned and that can improve performance on current or future projects

quality circles

groups of nonsupervisors and work leaders in a single company department who volunteer to conduct group studies on how to improve the effectiveness of work in their department

quality control

monitoring specific project results to ensure that they comply with the relevant quality standards and identifying ways to improve overall quality

reliability

the ability of a product or service to perform as expected under normal conditions

rework

action taken to bring rejected items into compliance with product requirements, specifications, or other stakeholder expectations

robust design methods

methods that focus on eliminating defects by substituting scientific inquiry for trial and error methods

run chart

a chart that displays the history and pattern of variation of a process over time

scatter diagram

a diagram that helps to show if there is a relationship between two variables; sometimes called XY charts

seven run rule

if seven data points in a row on quality control that are all below the mean, above the mean, or are all increasing or decreasing, then the process needs to be examined for nonrandom problems

six 9s of quality

a measure of quality control equal to 1 fault in 1 million opportunities

six sigma

a comprehensive and flexible system for achieving, sustaining, and maximizing business success that is uniquely driven by close understanding of customer needs, disciplined use of facts, data, and statistical analysis, and diligent attention to managing, improving, and reinventing business processes

software defect

anything that must be changed before delivery of the program

software quality function deployment (SQFD) model

a maturity model that focuses on defining user requirements and planning software projects

standard deviation

a measure of how much variation exists in a distribution of data

statistical sampling

choosing part of a population of interest for inspection

system outputs

the screens and reports the system generates

system testing

testing the entire system as one entity to ensure that it is working properly

unit test

a test of each individual component (often a program) to ensure that it is as defect free as possible

user acceptance testing

an independent test performed by end users prior to accepting the delivered system

yield

the number of units handled correctly through the development process

coercive power

using punishments, threats, or other negative approaches to get people to do things they do not want to do

collaborating mode

a conflict handling mode in which decision makers incorporate different viewpoints and insights to develop consensus and commitment

compromise mode

using a give and take approach to resolve conflicts; bargaining and searching for solutions that bring some degree of satisfaction to all the parties in a dispute

confrontation mode

facing a conflict directly using a problem solving approach that allows affected parties to work through their disagreements

deputy project managers

people who fill in for project managers in their absence and assist them as needed

empathetic listening

listening with the intent to understand

expert power

using one's personal knowledge and expertise to get people to change their behavior

extrinsic motivation

an approach that causes people to do something for a reward or avoid a penalty

forcing mode

using a win lose approach to conflict resolution to get one's way

groupthink

conformance to the values or ethical standards of a group

hierarchy of needs

a pyramid structure illustrating maslow's theory that people's behaviors are guided or motivated by a sequence of needs

intrinsic motivation

an approach that causes people to participate in an activity for their own enjoyment

legitimate power

getting people to do things based on position of authority

mirroring

matching certain behaviors of another person

myers briggs type indicator (MBTI)

a popular tool for determining personality preferences

organizational breakdown structure (OBS)

a specific type of organizational chart that shows which organizational units are responsible for particular work items

overallocation

a state in which not enough resources are available to perform the assigned work during a given time period

power

the ability to influence behavior to get people to do things they would not otherwise do

RACI charts

charts that show responsibility, accountability, consultation, and informed roles for project stakeholders

rapport

a relation of harmony, conformity, accord, or affinity

referent power

getting others to do things based on a person's own charisma

resource histogram

a column chart that shows the number of resources assigned to a project over time

resource leveling

a technique for resolving conflicts by delaying tasks

resource loading

the amount of individual resources an existing schedule requires during specific time periods

responsibility assignment matrix (RAM)

a matrix that maps the work of a project, as described in the WBS, to the people responsible for performing the work, as described in the organizational breakdown structure

reward power

using incentives to induce people to do things

smoothing mode

deemphasizing or avoiding areas of differences and emphasizing areas of agreement

staffing management mode

a document that describes when and how people will be added to a project team and taken off it

subproject managers

people responsible for managing the subprojects of a larger project

synergy

an approach in which the whole is greater than the sum of the parts

team development

building individual and group skills to enhance project performance

tuckman model

a model that describes five stages of team development: forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning

withdrawal model

retreating or withdrawing from an actual or potential disagreement

blogs

journals on the web that allow users to write entries, create links, and upload pictures, while readers can post comments to journal entries

communications management plan

a document that guides project communications

forecasts

predictions of future project status and progress based on past information and trends

Google docs

online applications offered by google that allow users to create, share, and edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentations online