Quality Assurance

in
Program Management

(An introduction to ISO 10006:2003)

ISO 10006:2003 gives guidance on the application of
Quality Management Systems- Guidelines for Quality
Mangement in projects.
It is applicable to projects of varying complexity, small or
large, of short or long duration, in different environments,
and irrespective of the kind of product or process
involved. This can necessitate some tailoring of the
guidance to suit a particular project.
ISO 10006:2003 is not a guide to "project management"
itself. Guidance on quality in project management
processes is discussed in this International Standard.
Guidance on quality in a project's product-related
processes, and on the "process approach", is covered in
ISO 9004.
Since ISO 10006:2003 is a guidance document,
it is not intended to be used for certification/registration
purposes.
 Quality Assurance in
Program Management
Background:

ISO 10006:20003 Quality Management Systems -

Guidelines for quality management in projects

ISO 10006:20003 NOT a standard talking about project management itself,

but provides guidance on quality in project management processes.
Guidance on quality in a project’s product related processes is covered in
ISO 9004:2000.

Consequently ISO 10006 supplements the ISO 9004 by providing

guidance in the quality aspect in the project management.
 Quality Assurance in
Program Management
Responsibility:

ISO 10006 emphasize the necessity of achievement of quality is a

top management responsibility, which should require the
commitment of quality to be distilled at all levels within the
organisation involved in the project.

ISO 10006 also states that each of this level should retain
responsibility for their respective processes and products.
 Quality Assurance in
Program Management
Applicability:

ISO 10006 applies to project of varying complexity, small or large,

short or long, in different environments and irrespective of the kind
of process or product involved.
 Quality Assurance in
Program Management
ISO 9001:2000 relations

TOC ISO 10006: Foreword

Introduction
1 Scope
2 Normative references
3 Terms and definitions
4 Quality Management Systems in projects
5 Management responsibility
6 Resource management
7 Product realization
8 Measurement, analysis and improvement
 Quality Assurance in
Program Management
2 Normative references

The normative references in ISO 10006 are:

ISO 9000:2000
Quality management systems - fundamentals and
vocabulary

ISO 9004:2000
Quality management systems - Guidelines for performance
improvements
 Quality Assurance in
Program Management
3 Terms and definitions (1 of 3):
ISO 10006 is using the ISO 9000:2000 terms and definitions,
but are amended with notes specific to projects, e.g.

PROJECT:
Unique process, consisting of a set of coordinated and
controlled activities, with start and finish dates, undertaken to
achieve an objective conforming to specific requirements,
including the constraints of time, cost and resources.

ACTVITY:
Smallest identified item of work in a project process
 Quality Assurance in
Program Management
3 Terms and definitions (2 of 3):
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Planning, organising, monitoring and reporting all aspects of a
project and the motivation of all those involved in it to achieve
the project objectives.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN

Document specifying what is necessary to meet the
objective(s) of the project.

NOTE 1: A project management plan should include or refer to the

project’s quality plan.
 Quality Assurance in
Program Management
3 Terms and definitions (3 of 3):

ORIGINATING ORGANISATION
The Originating organisation is the organisation which decides
to undertake the project

PROJECT ORGANISATION
The Project organisation executes the project.
 Quality Assurance in
Program Management
4 Quality Management Systems in projects (1 of 3)
A project is divided into two different aspects:

PROJECT PHASES
which divide the project life cycle into manageable sections, e.g.
conception, development, realization and termination1

PROJECT PROCESSES
which are necessary for managing the project as well as those
that are necessary to realize the project’s product.

1
ISO 10006 is not consistent with ISO/IEC 15288 where phases are called stages.
 Quality Assurance in
Program Management
4 Quality Management Systems in projects (2 of 3)
Project management processes (4.1)
Strategic process (5.2)
Resource-related processes (6.1)
Personnel-related processes (6.2)
Interdependency-related processes (7.2)
Scope-related processes (7.3)
Time-related processes (7.4)
Cost-related processes (7.5)
Communication-related processes (7.6)
Risk-related processes (7.7)
Purchasing-related processes (7.8)
Improvement-related processes (8.1)
 Quality Assurance in
Program Management
4 Quality Management Systems in projects (3 of 3)
4.2.3 Quality plan for the project.
The project quality management system should be
documented and included or referenced in a quality plan for
the project.
This plan should identify activities and resources necessary to
achieve the quality objectives for the project.
In contractual situations, an acquirer may specify
requirements for the quality plan. This should not limit the
scope of the quality plan for the project.
 Quality Assurance in
Program Management
Project management processes (4.1)

Purpose:
To document the planning, organisation, monitoring,
controlling, reporting and the necessary corrective actions
of the project necessary to achieve the object of the
project.
This should be done on a continual basis.

The Quality principles from ISO 9000:2000 and 9001:2000 applies.

 Quality Assurance in
Program Management
Strategic process (5.2)

The top management of the originating organisation has set the

strategy for quality for the organisation.
The project top management shall contribute to this strategy, by
considering the following in its contribution to the originating
organisation strategy:
Customer focus System approach to management
Leadership Continual improvement
Involvement of people Factual approach to decision making
Process approach Mutually beneficial supplier relationship
 Quality Assurance in
Program Management
Resource-related processes (6.1)

The resource-related processes is aimed to plan and control

resources; e.g. equipment, facilities, information, materials,
computer software, personnel, services and space.

Personnel-related processes (6.2)

The Personnel-related processes is aimed to create an

environment in which personnel can contribute effectively
and efficiently to the project
 Quality Assurance in
Program Management
Interdependency-related processes (7.2)

As a project consist of a row of interdependent processes a

change in one of the processes could result in another
change in another process.
To facilitate the interdependencies (which are planned)
between processes, the interaction (which are not planned)
in the project need to be managed.
This is normally documented in the programme
management plan.
 Quality Assurance in
Program Management
Scope-related processes (7.3)
The scope-related processes aims to describe the project
product, its characteristics and how they are measured
(assessed).

Time-related processes (7.4)

The time-related processes aims to determine

dependencies and the duration of activities and to ensure
timely completion of the project.
 Quality Assurance in
Program Management
Cost-related processes (7.5)

The cost-related processes aims to forecast and manage

the project cost in order to ensure that the project stay
within budget constraints and information can be provided
to the originating organisation.

Communication-related processes (7.6)

The communication-related processes aims to facilitate the

exchange of information necessary for the project.
 Quality Assurance in
Program Management
Risk-related processes (7.7)
The risk-related processes aims to deal with and manage uncertainties
throughout the project. This requires a structured approach that should be
documented in a risk management plan. The risk-related processes aim to
minimize the impact of potential negative events and take full advantage of
opportunities for improvement.
These processes are broken down in the following activities:
•Risk identification
•Risk assessment
•Risk treatment
•Risk control
NOTE: ISO 1006 considers “risk” as negative loaded word whereas
“uncertainties” contains both negative and positive aspects.
 Quality Assurance in
Program Management
Purchasing-related processes (7.8)

The purchasing-related processes provides product for the

project.

Improvement-related processes (8.1)

The improvement-related processes are use by both the

originating organisation and the project organisation to apply
corrective actions, preventive actions and loss prevention
methods AND to document “lesson learned.”
This should enable continual improvement in both current and
future projects.
 Quality Assurance in
Program Management

Template for
Project QA plan

FOR INFORMATION
ONLY