Section: Volume A
Explanation:
8.2.2.1 Quality Management and Control Tools
The Perform Quality Assurance process uses the tools and techniques of the Plan Quality Management and Control Quality processes. In addition, other tools that are available include (see also Figure 8-10):
Affinity diagrams. The affinity diagram is similar to mind-mapping techniques in that they are used to
generate ideas that can be linked to form organized patterns of thought about a problem. In project management, the creation of the WBS may be enhanced by using the affinity diagram to give structure to the decomposition of scope.
Process decision program charts (PDPC). Used to understand a goal in relation to the steps for getting to
the goal. The PDPC is useful as a method for contingency planning because it aids teams in anticipating intermediate steps that could derail achievement of the goal.
Interrelationship digraphs. An adaptation of relationship diagrams. The interrelationship digraphs provide a
process for creative problem solving in moderately complex scenarios that possess intertwined logical relationships for up to 50 relevant items. The interrelationship digraph may be developed from data generated in other tools such as the affinity diagram, the tree diagram, or the fshbone diagram.
Tree diagrams. Also known as systematic diagrams and may be used to represent decomposition
hierarchies such as the WBS, RBS (risk breakdown structure), and OBS (organizational breakdown structure).
In project management, tree diagrams are useful in visualizing the parent-to-child relationships in any decomposition hierarchy that uses a systematic set of rules that define a nesting relationship. Tree diagrams can be depicted horizontally (such as a risk breakdown structure) or vertically (such as a team hierarchy or OBS). Because tree diagrams permit the creation of nested branches that terminate into a single
decision point, they are useful as decision trees for establishing an expected value for a limited number of dependent relationships that have been diagramed systematically.
Prioritization matrices. Identify the key issues and the suitable alternatives to be prioritized as a set of
decisions for implementation. Criteria are prioritized and weighted before being applied to all available alternatives to obtain a mathematical score that ranks the options.
Activity network diagrams. Previously known as arrow diagrams. They include both the AOA (Activity on
Arrow) and, most commonly used, AON (Activity on Node) formats of a network diagram. Activity network diagrams are used with project scheduling methodologies such as program evaluation and review technique (PERT), critical path method (CPM), and precedence diagramming method (PDM).
Matrix diagrams. A quality management and control tool used to perform data analysis within the
organizational structure created in the matrix. The matrix diagram seeks to show the strength of relationships between factors, causes, and objectives that exist between the rows and columns that form the matrix.
