the accidental project manager - ny spinnyspin.org/spin_apm_qa.pdf · the accidental project...

The Accidental Project Manager:QA Road Maps and Training Wheels

Patricia Ensworth

Harborlight Management Serviceswww.harborlightmanagement.com

The Accidental Project Manager:Surviving the Transition from Techie to Managerwww.wiley.com/compbooks/ensworth

http://www.harborlightmanagement.com/

http://www.wiley.com/compbooks/ensworth

© Patricia EnsworthHarborlight Management Services 2

NYC SPINSeptember 2003

Agenda

Cautionary tales

Navigation aids

Guidance and support

Organizational context



Hierarchy of Processes



Some Accidental Project Managers

The Secret Agent

The Lost Soul

The Therapist



QA Road Maps: Cartographers

ISOSEIProject Management Institute (PMI)

Founded 1969Headquarters in PennsylvaniaChapters in 125 countries, 100,000+ membersStandards development organizationProject Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK)Project Management Professional certificate (PMP)Project Management Maturity Model (PMMM)



QA Road Maps: Legend

Project manager knowledge areasIntegrationScopeTime CostQualityHuman ResourcesCommunicationsRiskProcurement



QA Road Maps: Legend

Project lifecycleInitiatingPlanning

Scope definitionRequirements gatheringProcess formulationProject plan creation

ExecutingDesignDevelopmentTestingDeployment

Closing



QA Road Maps: Route

Initiating PhaseProject Charter

GoalSponsorProject Manager



QA Road Maps: Route

Planning phase - analysisScope documentRequirements documentGeneral responsibility matrixTask analysisWork breakdown structureNetwork diagramEstimatesPERT chartGANTT chart



Scope Document

GoalCritical Success FactorsCritical Success MeasuresConstraintsAssumptionsRisksExclusionsScheduleBudget

Patricia EnsworthHarborlight Management Services 12


Work Breakdown Structure



Network Diagram



PERT Chart



QA Road Maps: Route

Planning phase – Project Plan Deliverables

WBSDependencies

ScheduleDatesCritical path

MilestonesResource assignments

Task ownerDepartment participationResponsibility matrix



QA Road Maps: Route

Planning phase – Project PlanBudgetCommunications planQuality planHR planRisk planProcurement plan



Communication PlanI. Protocols

A. Meetings 1. Core management meetings

Agenda Format Duration Frequency Rules / etiquette

2. Core team meetings Agenda Format Duration Frequency Rules / etiquette

3. FM / SH / SME meetings Agenda Format Duration Frequency Rules / etiquette

B. Status reports 1. Content 2. Format 3. Frequency

C. Procedures 1. Remote / virtual / telecommuting work 2. Tool usage 3. Oral instructions vs. written correspondence 4. Collaborative authoring 5. Conflict resolution

II. Tools

A. Office applications B. E-mail C. Instant messaging D. Discussion databases E. Blogs F. Websites G. Shared servers H. Voice mail I. Teleconferences J. Videoconferences K. Phone text messaging



II.

Quality PlanProject Quality

A. Quality Assurance1. Standards and procedures

RequirementsChange managementDocumentationConfiguration managementSource code controlVersion controlPeer reviewCodingCode commentaryBuildsReleases

2. EnvironmentDevelopment environmentTest environment

Unit test environmentSystem test environmentIntegration test environmentAutomated test environmentPerformance test environmentInternational test environmentBeta test environmentUAT test environment

Staging environmentProduction environment

3. ToolsDevelopment toolsTesting tools

B. Quality Control1. Auditing practices2. Maintenance activities

I. Product Quality

A. Quality Assurance1. Quality criteria definitions2. Quality assessment methods

B. Quality Control1. Testing 2. Defect tracking 3. Test results analysis4. Requirements revisions5. Focus groups



QA Road Maps: Route

Executing phaseChange request formChange logSystem documentationTest documentationStatus reportsMetricsEstimates vs. actualsUpdated project plan



QA Road Maps: Route

Closing phaseUser acceptance agreementManagement reportLessons Learned reportMaintenance planCompleted documentationPerformance evaluationsFinal version of project plan



QA Training Wheels

Select appropriate processes

Review the WBS

Expand QA roles



QA Training Wheels: Adaptation

Processes and documentsAnalyze goals, workflow, teamIdentify weaknesses and gapsRecommend appropriate solutions

Communication plan

WBS, RAM

Network diagram, quality plan



QA Training Wheels: WBS

Project management tasksInclude in work breakdown structure Link to project planCreate realistic estimates



Project Plan – QA tasks



Project Plan – testing tasks



QA Training Wheels: Roles

Expansion of activitiesSociologistTrainerOmbudspersonCoachAdvisor



Organizational strategies

Independent QA departmentCollaboration with Project OfficeCollaboration with Training Department

Project QACoordination with other projectsDevelopment of templatesEducation and marketing

Embedded QA Knowledge baseUser groupsBest practices symposium

the accidental project manager - ny spinnyspin.org/spin_apm_qa.pdf · the accidental project...

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