Question 1

According to W. Edwards Deming's system of profound knowledge, knowledge of variation involves understanding statistical variation.

Accepted Answer

According to Deming, knowledge of variation is one of the four components of his "system of profound knowledge" and it involves understanding statistical variation.

Question 2

Walter Shewhart recognized that real processes seldom behaved like theoretical random distributions and tended to change with time.

Accepted Answer

Walter Shewhart is known for developing statistical process control methods and his famous "Shewhart cycle" which emphasizes continuous improvement. He recognized that real processes often exhibited variation and did not conform to theoretical random distributions, and that they tended to change over time. This realization led to the development of control charts to monitor process behavior and detect any unusual patterns or trends.

Question 3

Risk analysis is used to determine which of the risks the project faces could affect quality.

Accepted Answer

Risk analysis helps to identify potential risks that could affect the project's outcome, and determining which risks could impact the quality of the project is an important part of the analysis process.

Question 4

Statistical processes control methods cannot be used to maintain quality for large projects involving repetitive processes.

Accepted Answer

Statistical process control methods can be effective in maintaining quality for large projects involving repetitive processes. These methods involve monitoring and analyzing process data to detect and correct any variations or abnormalities that may occur. By using statistical techniques to identify trends and patterns in the data, process improvements can be made, leading to better overall quality control.

Question 5

According to the International Organization for Standardization ISO), quality is "two standard deviations above the norm."

Accepted Answer

ISO 9001 defines quality as "the degree to which a set of inherent characteristics fulfills requirements." The standard does not mention anything about being "two standard deviations above the norm."

Question 6

For normal distributions, about 95.4 percent of the measurements fall within one standard deviation on either side of the mean.

Accepted Answer

For normal distributions, about 68% of the measurements fall within one standard deviation on either side of the mean, not 95.4%. Approximately 95% fall within two standard deviations.

Question 7

Determining how well products meet grade requirements is done by taking measurements and then interpreting those measurements.

Accepted Answer

This statement accurately reflects the process of determining product grades. Measurements are taken and analyzed to determine whether the product meets established requirements for quality and performance.

Question 8

In general, it costs less to produce and measure products that have small tolerances.

Accepted Answer

Producing and measuring products with small tolerances typically costs more due to the need for precise manufacturing processes, higher quality materials, and advanced measurement tools to ensure compliance with strict specifications.

Question 9

One of Deming's fourteen principles of management includes continuing inspection on a mass basis in order to build quality into the product.

Accepted Answer

Deming advocated for improving the production process to build quality into the product from the start, rather than relying on mass inspections to find defects.

Question 10

Because projects are time sensitive, meeting activity finish dates is a common characteristic of quality work on a project that is typical of a requirement of a process manager.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Because projects are time sensitive, meeting activity...

Question 11

The first step in calculating the standard deviation is to take the square root.

Accepted Answer

The first step in calculating the standard deviation is to calculate the variance, which involves finding the average of the squared differences between each data point and the mean. The square root is then taken of the variance to obtain the standard deviation.

Question 12

Quality management is an approach to work that has become increasingly important, as global cooperation and competition have increased.

Accepted Answer

Quality management has become increasingly important in response to a more interconnected global economy and the need for businesses to deliver high-quality products and services to remain competitive.

Question 13

Kaizen is a Japanese concept of learning from the way a user applies a product in order to improve it.

Accepted Answer

Kaizen is a Japanese concept that focuses on continuous improvement in all aspects of life, including business processes and manufacturing, rather than specifically learning from how a user applies a product.

Question 14

Almost any client specification can be met if the project manager has unlimited time and resources.

Accepted Answer

With unlimited time and resources, a project manager can theoretically meet any client specification by adjusting the project scope, schedule, and resource allocation to fulfill the requirements.

Question 15

In general, if the mean is three standard deviations from both control limits, the probability of a part exceeding the control limits from random variation is practically zero.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In general, if the mean is three...

Question 16

The Deming approach represents one philosophy that is used in its entirety or not at all.

Accepted Answer

The Deming approach is a comprehensive philosophy that emphasizes the importance of continuous improvement, customer focus, and employee involvement. It is meant to be implemented in its entirety, rather than in a piecemeal fashion.

Question 17

The edges of a theoretical normal distribution curve reach zero.

Accepted Answer

The edges of a normal distribution curve approach zero but technically never reach it, as the curve continues infinitely in both directions.

Question 18

Because projects are temporary, spotting trends in samples produced by repetitive processes is not as important as considering quality in the planning of the project.

Accepted Answer

Since projects have a defined end date, it is important to focus on quality planning from the beginning of the project to ensure that the final product meets the desired specifications. However, for repetitive processes that yield samples, tracking trends in the samples is crucial to identify any variations or defects in the process and make necessary adjustments for continuous improvement.

Question 19

To assist in developing standards for quality that would be the same between countries, an organization of 158 national standards groups formed the International Organization for Standardization ISO) that is headquartered in Switzerland.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) was formed by a group of national standards organizations and is headquartered in Switzerland. Its aim is to develop and promote international standards for a wide range of industries and activities to ensure quality and consistency across borders.

Question 20

Cost of failure includes cost of conformance and cost of appraisal.

Accepted Answer

The cost of failure includes the cost of nonconformance and the cost of internal and external failures. The cost of conformance and cost of appraisal are part of the cost of quality.

Quiz 10: Managing Project Quality