The Quality Register is a fundamental management product in PRINCE2 7 that serves as a comprehensive record of all planned and completed quality activities throughout a project. It functions as a central repository that tracks quality management information, ensuring that quality standards are main…The Quality Register is a fundamental management product in PRINCE2 7 that serves as a comprehensive record of all planned and completed quality activities throughout a project. It functions as a central repository that tracks quality management information, ensuring that quality standards are maintained and verified across all project deliverables.
The Quality Register contains essential details about each quality activity, including the product being tested, the quality method being applied, the roles responsible for conducting the quality checks, and the planned and actual dates for these activities. It also records the results of quality inspections, reviews, and tests, along with any follow-up actions required to address identified defects or issues.
This register is created during the initiation stage of a project and is continuously updated throughout the project lifecycle. The Project Manager typically maintains the Quality Register, though the Project Support function may assist with this responsibility. It provides valuable information for progress reporting and helps stakeholders understand the current quality status of project products.
The Quality Register links closely with other PRINCE2 management products, particularly the Product Descriptions, which define the quality criteria and tolerances for each product. When quality activities reveal non-conformances or issues, these are typically escalated and managed through the Issue Register.
Key benefits of maintaining a Quality Register include providing an audit trail of quality activities, enabling trend analysis to identify recurring quality problems, supporting lessons learned activities, and demonstrating compliance with quality standards to stakeholders. It also helps project teams plan resources for upcoming quality activities and ensures nothing falls through the gaps.
In PRINCE2 7, the Quality Register remains an important tool for implementing the quality management approach and demonstrating that products meet their specified quality criteria before acceptance.
Quality Register - PRINCE2 Foundation V7 Complete Guide
What is the Quality Register?
The Quality Register is a management product in PRINCE2 that serves as a diary or log of all quality management activities planned and completed during a project. It provides a summary of all quality events, including quality inspections, reviews, audits, and tests that have been scheduled and carried out throughout the project lifecycle.
Why is the Quality Register Important?
The Quality Register is essential for several key reasons:
1. Tracking Quality Activities: It provides a complete record of all quality events, making it easy to track what has been checked and when.
2. Audit Trail: It creates an audit trail that demonstrates quality assurance activities have been performed, which is valuable for governance and compliance purposes.
3. Progress Monitoring: Project managers can use it to monitor whether quality activities are being completed on schedule.
4. Evidence of Quality: It provides documented evidence that products have been reviewed and approved, supporting the overall quality management approach.
5. Learning from Experience: The register captures results and lessons that can inform future projects.
How the Quality Register Works
The Quality Register is created during the Initiating a Project process and is maintained throughout the project. Here is how it functions:
Creation: The Project Manager creates the Quality Register as part of project initiation, using information from the Quality Management Strategy.
Population: Quality activities are added to the register as they are planned. Each entry typically includes details such as the quality activity identifier, product being tested, method of quality check, roles responsible, planned and actual dates, and results.
Updates: As quality activities are completed, the register is updated with actual dates, results, and any follow-up actions required.
Review: The register is reviewed at stage boundaries and during project closure to ensure all planned quality activities have been completed.
Typical Contents of a Quality Register Entry
- Quality identifier (unique reference number) - Product identifier (what is being checked) - Product title - Method (type of quality activity) - Roles and responsibilities - Planned date - Actual date - Result (pass, fail, or conditional) - Quality records reference
Relationship to Other Management Products
The Quality Register relates closely to:
- Quality Management Strategy: Defines how quality will be managed and how the register will be maintained - Product Descriptions: Define the quality criteria and methods for each product - Stage Plan: Quality activities from the register are incorporated into stage planning - Checkpoint Reports: Include updates on quality activity progress
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Quality Register
Tip 1: Remember the Purpose The Quality Register is a summary record of quality activities - think of it as a log or diary rather than a strategy document. If a question asks about planning how quality will be managed, that refers to the Quality Management Strategy, not the register.
Tip 2: Know Who Maintains It The Project Manager is responsible for creating and maintaining the Quality Register. This is a common exam question.
Tip 3: Understand When It Is Created The Quality Register is created during the Initiating a Project process. It is not created at the start of each stage but is updated throughout the project.
Tip 4: Distinguish from Quality Records The Quality Register summarizes quality activities, while quality records contain the detailed evidence and results. The register references where to find the full records.
Tip 5: Focus on Tracking Language Exam questions about tracking, logging, or recording quality activities usually point to the Quality Register. Questions about defining standards or approaches point to the Quality Management Strategy.
Tip 6: Remember It Captures Both Planned and Actual The register includes both scheduled quality activities and the actual results once completed. This dual nature is important for exam questions about monitoring quality progress.