Introduction to Quality and its Importance

Marieke Guy UKOLN M.Guy@ukoln.ac.uk

http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/qa-focus/
QA Focus Supporting JISC's 5/99 Programme

What is Quality?
There are so many definitions for Quality. Quality is.. Based on judgments by an individual or organisation Fitness for purpose Corresponds to a rating Based on acceptable performance Meeting goals Meeting requirements

QA Focus Supporting JISC's 5/99 Programme

What is Quality Assurance?

What is Quality? Quality is the ability of your product to be able to satisfy your users What is Quality Assurance? Quality Assurance is the process that demonstrates your product is able to satisfy your users

QA Focus Supporting JISC's 5/99 Programme

What is the Aim of QA?

What is the aim of Quality Assurance?
When good Quality Assurance is implemented there should be improvement in usability and performance and lessening rates of defects

QA Focus Supporting JISC's 5/99 Programme

What does QA give?

Quality means your project is useful without quality you may have little to offer Quality can help to future-proof projects But quality assurance needs documented standards and best practices to be meaningful Quality & Best Practice can be considered in terms of being Fit for Purpose

QA Focus Supporting JISC's 5/99 Programme

Why is QA needed?
In the past JISC had standards-based philosophy but: Approach of "let a 1,000 flowers bloom" Diversification as no killer application Things are different now: The Web is the killer application There is now a need for interoperability (now self-contained independent Web sites) There is a need for publicly-funded services to be seen to provide value for money
QA Focus Supporting JISC's 5/99 Programme

What is Quality Control?

Quality Control (QC) is the implementation of regular testing procedures against your definitions of quality and more specifically the refinement of these procedures Formal use of testing Acting on the results of your tests Requires planning, structured tests, good documentation Relates to output - Quality Circle Standards - ISO 9000 & BS5750
however there is currently no such standard for Web sites
QA Focus Supporting JISC's 5/99 Programme

The Quality Cycle

Create site
input

Quality Control

Test site

output

Quality
Refine site
Quality Assurance
QA Focus Supporting JISC's 5/99 Programme

Test results

Exercise 2
In small groups carry out Exercise 2: QA Approaches to Identified Problems

QA Focus Supporting JISC's 5/99 Programme

Questions
Any questions?

QA Focus Supporting JISC's 5/99 Programme