Perform Quality Assurance

Correct Answer: Review the project quality management plan

The best course of action when the project manager receives customer feedback that the product quality does not meet expectations is to 'Review the project quality management plan'. This is because the quality management plan details the necessary information to identify what is considered quality and how it can be achieved in the project. It helps the project manager identify where the discrepancy is and take corrective actions to improve the product quality. Jumping to the conclusions such as 'Assuming customer's expectations are too high', 'Blaming the project team for not adhering to quality standards', or 'Starting over with a new project team' without proper analysis is not a professional way of managing a project and does not solve the underlying issue, that is, the reported lack of resulting product quality.

Correct Answer: Perform a root cause analysis and implement corrective actions

The best course of action when noticing defects in the project's deliverables is to perform a root cause analysis and implement corrective actions. This approach ensures that the source of the problem is identified and resolved, preventing similar defects from occurring in the future. Ignoring the defects, even if they are minor, is not advisable as they can accumulate over time and significantly impact the project's quality. Firing the team member responsible for the defects does not resolve the underlying issue and may demoralize the team. Similarly, replacing the entire project team is an extreme measure that does not ensure that the same defects would not occur with a new team. Therefore, the correct approach is to identify the root causes of the defects and take appropriate corrective actions.

Correct Answer: Conduct a focused training session on the specific quality standards and integration requirements for the project team.

The most appropriate action is to conduct a focused training session on the specific quality standards and integration requirements for the project team. By providing targeted training, the project manager can ensure that the team fully understands the quality expectations and metrics required for successful integration. This approach addresses the root cause of the issue, which is the team's lack of understanding of the quality standards. Replacing team members or halting the project entirely would be disruptive and may not address the underlying problem. Lowering the quality standards would compromise the project's objectives and stakeholder satisfaction. Through focused training, the project manager can realign the team's efforts with the project's quality goals, minimize delays, and ensure the project meets its objectives without compromising on quality.