Software Certifications

2006 CSQA Body of Knowledge
Knowledge Category 1

Quality Principles and Concepts

Before an organization can begin to assess the quality of its products and services, and identify opportunities for improvement, it first must have a working knowledge of quality principles and basic concepts. This category will test the CSQA candidate’s ability to understand and apply these principles, which include the quality vocabulary, various ways of defining quality, key concepts, distinguishing between quality control and quality assurance, and the contributions of quality pioneers.

Vocabulary of Quality

Understand the terms used to explain and implement quality in an IT organization.

The Different Views of Quality

The Two Quality Gaps
Quality Attributes for an Information System

Quality Concepts and Practices

PDCA Cycle (Plan-Do-Check-Act)
Cost of Quality
Six Sigma Quality
Baselining and Benchmarking
Earned Value

Quality Control and Quality Assurance

Quality Control
Understanding and Using the Just-In-Time (JIT) Technique
Quality Assurance
Differentiating Between Quality Control and Quality Assurance

Quality Pioneers Approach to Quality

Dr. W. Edwards Deming
Philip Crosby
Dr. Joseph Juran
Total Quality Management

Bibliographic References

IMPORTANT: It is each candidate's responsibility to stay current in the field and to be aware of published works and materials available for professional study and development. Software Certifications recommends that candidates for certification continually research and stay aware of current literature and trends in the field. There are many valuable references that have not been listed here. These references are offered for informational purposes only.

The Man Who Discovered Quality [Deming]: by Andrea Gabor, Random House, 1990 See Details
Deming Management at Work: by Mary Walton, Putnam, 1991. See Details
Juran on Leadership for Quality: An Executive Handbook: by J. M. Juran. Free Press, 1989. See Details
Juran on Quality by Design: The New Steps for Planning Quality into Goods and Services: by J. M. Juran, Free Press, 1992.
Quality is Still Free: Making Quality Certain in Uncertain Times: by Philip B. Crosby. McGraw-Hill, 1996. See Details

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