• Contrasting roles: Quality Assurance, Testing, Verification and Validation
• Comparing software development life cycles
• Documenting processes
• Defining the goals of Quality Assurance

Analyzing the components of quality

• Creating processes
• Choosing the best practices and implementing process improvement initiatives
• Comparing Agile and traditional QA roles and methods

Implementing a road map

• IEEE
• CMMI
• ISO 9001
• Selecting and documenting standards
• Participating in reviews and audits
• Maintaining records

Applying verification and validation techniques for error detection

• Evaluating verification and validation techniques
• Analyzing life cycle products
• Implementing a QA policy and plan
• Exploring testing levels

Detecting defects while applying inspection techniques

• Defining the inspection process
• Planning and conducting an inspection
• Communicating inspection results

The types of audits

• Comparing process, product and projects
• Implementing quality system and configuration audits
• Documenting audit findings in a report

Comparing industry standards

• Complying with industry standards and models: ISO 9001 and CMMI
• Comparing the work products against industry best practices

Initiating the auditing process

• Planning and preparing for the audit
• Reporting the results
• Monitoring noncompliance

Participating in an audit

• Reviewing documentation
• Documenting and confirming audit findings
• Presenting audit findings

Defining the components of a CM system

• Identifying the workflow and work products
• Assessing and managing components with release management
• Communicating product status using reports

Managing and controlling products for consistency

• Controlling QA and/or test plans
• Monitoring quality reports, audit findings and peer review documentation

Fostering learning through process improvement

• Defining and implementing process improvement
• Planning process improvement initiatives

Achieving excellence through metrics

• Selecting and analyzing metrics
• Communicating organizational progress

Analyzing data through root cause analysis

• Determining the possible causes of problems utilizing a Fishbone diagram
• Narrowing down the correct course of action by creating a Pareto Analysis diagram
• Examining flow charts during the root cause analysis process

Coordinating the next steps

• Implementing corrective actions
• Focusing on prevention techniques