The value of a good quality assurance consultant is to independently verify and assess the quality of the project. From project management to sponsorship to team communication, every piece of the project fits into the potential success or failure of the project.
We view as our role as a partner in the success of the project. Our goal is to be added to the project without interfering or being a burden, while remaining independent to provide observations, insights and recommendations all geared toward project success. We are not just focused on the vendor performance, but all who have a stake in the project, including the client. While the executive sponsor is the focal point, we want to work with everyone in business and IT affected by the project to influence positive project outcomes.
A quality assurance vendor should not serve as a mere auditor looking for fault and problems, but an advisor who offers insight into why an area is at risk, providing useful recommendations on how to improve. This can include specific tools and templates, spending time with members of the project team or sponsors to provide mentorship to help them be more successful in their roles.
Treinen’s quality assurance practice is grounded in decades of project management success, specifically in IT projects. We understand what it takes to execute a project, extra large or small, and we have been on the client and vendor sides of a project. Our consultants have Agile and OCM certifications, many have experience as developers, testers, and business analysts as well. These experiences give us a perspective that understands these roles and the challenges that come with them. We know what various team members need to be successful and the key factors that drive success.
Planning & Procurement Support
Principles
The following principles drive the behavior and overall engagement of our QA services to our clients:
Objectivity
QA assessments are made based on quantitative information, such as interviews, data, and facts. Regardless of source, each meaningful encounter is documented and recorded as observations. Both positive and negative observations are recorded. The goal is to provide a balanced report on project processes, dynamics, progress, and status.
Significance
QA assessments record observations, recommendations, issues, risks, and risk management strategies that are important or significant. There will be minor issues, background noise events, and typical dynamic interactives that will occur but should not be the focus of the assessment. QA can provide advice to help reduce the noise, but that will not be the focal point of assessment. The reports will include observations and risks that have the potential to make a significant impact on the project. Proper judgement in deciding what is significant is applied by the QA consultant(s).
Standards
Treinen defines and applies meaningful standards and best practices against which findings and observations are made using both Project Management Body of Knowledge best practices and WaTech policies to apply to those standards.
Reasonableness
Recommendation and risk mitigation strategies strive for reasonableness. Perfection does not exist in budget-, time- and scope-constrained projects, and all projects are constrained in some manner or form. Recommendations and risk management strategies are shaped to accommodate those limitations; otherwise, they become “pie in the sky,” cannot be reasonably implemented, and provide no practical value to the client.
Clarity
Executive summaries, observations and recommendations are stated in clear, concise terms that the client can understand on first reading.
Non-biased
The goal of the Independent QA assessment is to provide value for the project and the team in supporting the project’s success. Treinen QA consultants maintain neutrality and objectivity in observations, content, and tone.
Collaboration
Independent QA services are successful if they provide advice, examples, or information that will contribute to the success of the project. Ultimately, it is the client’s decision whether to implement the recommendations or advice provided. However, Treinen QA consultants strive to work with the client to ensure services being provided meet needs.