ICAPMG606A
Manage IT project quality

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to ensure quality within information technology (IT) projects. It covers planning for quality based on stakeholder needs, implementing quality assurance processes, and using quality control data to ensure continuous improvement for the benefit of current and future projects.

Application

IT project managers in small, medium or large organisations apply the skills and knowledge in this unit to ensure that appropriate quality processes and controls are established in projects under their control.

Their job roles combine high-level management, business and technical skills necessary to manage complex technology projects within the information and communications technology (ICT) industry.


Prerequisites

Not applicable.


Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Establish a quality management plan

1.1 Determine project quality requirements with reference to project scope and stakeholder needs and expectations

1.2 Adopt or agree on organisational quality policy and quality standards with stakeholders

1.3 Determine project quality management approach, including proposed quality assurance processes and quality control measurement methods and benchmarks

1.4 Negotiate project quality, cost, time trade-offs and changes to stakeholder expectations if necessary

1.5 Develop a quality management plan for the project and obtain sign-off

2. Perform IT quality assurance processes

2.1 Execute quality assurance activities as the project progresses according to the quality management plan

2.2 Identify project processes not meeting quality standards agreed in the quality management plan

2.3 Raise project change request to action process changes or corrective actions, update project-management plan and quality baselines as necessary

3. Perform quality control

3.1 Validate project processes and deliverables against quality requirements as the project progresses

3.2 Review quality control metrics and take action as necessary to investigate and understand the reasons for failure

3.3 Use quality-management tools to determine failures and root causes and implement continuous improvement processes

Required Skills

Required skills

analytical skills to interpret quality metrics, identify issues, root causes and identify the need for improvement processes

communication skills to:

negotiate and establish stakeholder expectations and gather quality requirements

facilitate problem-solving workshops

literacy skills to:

develop quality plans

review recommendations and reports

numeracy skills to develop cost-benefit analyses

project-management skills to develop a life cycle process.

Required knowledge

problem-solving tools and techniques

project-management roles and responsibilities

quality improvement processes and methodology

quality management theory, techniques, tools and methodologies

relevant quality standards.

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the ability to:

identify and implement appropriate quality management processes within a complex IT project.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure access to:

appropriate learning and assessment support when required

modified equipment for people with special needs

appropriate simulated or real organisation and suitable IT project

facilities suitable for holding quality assurance problem-solving workshops.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

direct observation of the candidate carrying out project work

verbal or written questioning to assess required knowledge and skills

review of reports, plans and documents

review of a portfolio of the project work undertaken.

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, where appropriate.

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and suitable to the communication skill level, language, literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.

Indigenous people and other people from a non-English speaking background may need additional support.

In cases where practical assessment is used it should be combined with targeted questioning to assess required knowledge.


Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Quality requirements may include:

negotiated trade-offs between cost, schedule and performance as these relate to implementation of quality processes

quality aspects that may impact on customer satisfaction

requirements from the client and other stakeholders.

Quality standards may refer to:

ISO 10006:2003, which provides guidance on the application of quality management in projects and other recognised standards and guidelines

national and international standards, such as ISO 9004:2008 and 9004:2009 for guidance on implementing continual improvement processes and quality of product and service delivery

recognised industry best practices.

Quality assurance processes refer to:

procedures and processes implemented to ensure agreed quality outcomes based on the specific needs of the project.

Quality control may relate to:

monitoring compliance with best practice, standards, requirements and solution specifications

monitoring the results of regular quality assurance processes, including audits or inspections by internal or external agents

recommending continual improvement activities

recommending ways to eliminate root causes of unsatisfactory performance of processes or products.

Quality baselines may include:

standard by which quantitative values captured via quality metrics are compared to, such as stakeholder satisfaction index, which must remain above 90%.

Quality-control metrics relate to:

measures that have been developed to allow quantitative evaluation of the relative performance of specific processes, activities and outcomes over time

defect density

schedule variance

stakeholder satisfaction index

training effectiveness.

Quality-management tools may include:

benchmarking

brainstorming

charting processes

control charts

cost-benefit analysis

flowcharts

group work activities

histograms

Pareto charts

processes that limit or indicate variation

ranking candidates

run charts

scattergrams

statistical methods.


Sectors

IT project management


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement but users should confirm requirements with the relevant federal, state or territory authority.