Manage Quality
The process of turning the quality management plan into actionable quality tasks and embedding the organization's quality policies into the project's activities.
Key Points
- Converts the quality management plan into concrete, preventive quality actions for the team.
- Focuses on building quality into processes (e.g., audits, process analysis, design reviews) rather than inspecting outputs.
- Drives continuous improvement and may produce quality reports, checklists, test strategies, and updates to procedures.
- Different from Control Quality, which checks deliverables; Manage Quality improves the way work is performed to avoid defects.
Example
On a software project, the team establishes coding standards, sets up peer code reviews, conducts quality audits, and refines the testing approach based on process analysis. These actions implement the quality plan and ensure the organization's quality policies are built into how the team works.
PMP Example Question
Which activity best represents the Manage Quality process?
- Inspecting finished deliverables against acceptance criteria
- Conducting a quality audit to verify adherence to defined procedures
- Formally accepting deliverables with the customer
- Documenting defects found during product testing
Correct Answer: B — Conducting a quality audit to prevent defects (Manage Quality)
Explanation: Manage Quality is proactive and process-focused. A quality audit evaluates how work is performed and helps embed quality into processes. Inspection and defect recording are part of Control Quality.
