GovernIT

How do you use your metric? Every metric can provide you with a different information/decision making capability, depending on how you use it. In fact, the way you use it can give an insight into the maturity of your measurement practices. The graphic below gives the 4 most common ways in which a metric can be used.

The mild arrows show how you can mature the metric to the next level of maturity. For example, you can use a metric such as project schedule adherence to control the current projects, but when you can capture historical information and apply to relevant future projects, you gain the ability to predict their schedule adherence.

Now that you have some idea of how metrics can be used, take a hard look at your metrics (your metrics catalog, if you have one, can have this field!) and tell us what % of your metrics fall into each category in the comments.

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The first part of this series provided an overview of the PMO, types of PMOs and typical functions.

The second part looked at the role of PMO in setting up and monitoring Change Management processes and activities.

This post looks at the Quality Management/Assurance responsibilities of the PMO.

Quality Management is a less-emphasized function of the PMO. In large IT organizations, primary Quality guidance is provided by a centralized Quality function and actual implementation guidance by the PMO. For smaller IT organizations, the PMO.

However, it is important that the PMO incorporate the Quality Management aspects into its guidance and governance systems, since process-orientation can bring in discipline and streamline all activities in the Programs/projects.

The key responsibilities of a PMO for Quality Management include:

Setting up quality standards if none exists or tailoring organizational standards
Provide guidance on defining acceptance criteria to measure successful completion of the project
Provide guidance on setting up Program and project specific metrics for monitoring, tracking progress and quality
Schedule, conduct and review Program and project audits to ensure they are following the guidance provided by the PMO.
These aspects can be detailed out in a Quality Management Plan. A well-structured QM Plan can help the Program/Project adhere to the accepted practices in their projects. In addition, the PMO may also provide
Quality management support to projects through a dedicated team of people.

A typical QM Plan will have the following Table of contents (sections):

• Reference to organizational processes (if available)
• List and reference to any adaptations to the organizational processes, templates and checklists
• List and reference to program/project specific processes, templates and checklists
• List and reference to all standards/guidelines (including technical, industry-specific regulations, domain etc)
• Release Reviews performed by the Quality function before any customer/production release
• Program/Project specific metrics and tolerances
• Work product reviews that will be performed by people in the Quality function
• Tools and techniques used for Quality activities
• Defect prevention, causal analysis activities and techniques
• Reports and Dashboards
• Frequency and timing of project reviews and audits by the Quality function

If you have implemented the Quality Management function as part of the PMO, we would love to hear your experiences and challenges.

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