IT Planning and Management - Additional Resources

QA Report Guidelines

Summary. Summarize background, evaluation results, and recommendations.
Background Information. Include the what, when, scope, objectives of the review, and any other supporting data. Include QA activities (planned to actual).
Evaluation Result. Include significant information only, from the perspective of the reader. If the findings were all good, say that. Reports should cover good news, and not just exist to give bad news.
Recommendations. Note whether the team already has agreed to implement any of the recommendations, so recipient knows whether there are any unresolved issues. Include the effect of the recommendations on resources, whether the cost of implementing the recommendations (labor hours, people), and project implications.
Appendixes. Include information that supports the findings and is potentially valuable but not essential to the recipient.
The QA report provides the necessary information from the perspective of all classes of recipients. The following text describes the classes of recipients.

Viewpoint
Responsible for delivery of the product or services
Project management objectives
Responsible for resolving noncompliance issues
Level of detail (Section 2, Background)
Summarize by process, product, or service
Single out groups for positive recognition
Projected attainment of project goals
Feedback (Section 3, Evaluation Results
Team experience with the process and products
May be affected by changes to the procedures/standards
More enthusiastic about their own recommendations
Frame recommendations (Section 4, Recommendations)
What's in it for Me (WIIFM) - productivity with improved quality, positive impact on project cost and schedule

Viewpoint
Responsible for cost, schedule, and delivery of products and services across the organization
Level of detail (Section 2)
Highlight areas of interest and concern.
Make recommendations specific to projects, program, and organization. Take advantage of success.
Incorporate recommendations already agreed upon.
Identify unresolved issues and reasons for disagreement.
Feedback - Business objectives and long-term strategies (Section 3)
Frame recommendations (Section 4)
Organizational improvements to productivity, efficiency, etc.