1. Introduction to Quality and its Importance
Marieke Guy
UKOLN
QA Focus – Supporting JISC's 5/99 Programme

2. 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

3. What is Quality Assurance?
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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. QA Focus – Supporting JISC's 5/99 Programme
The Quality Cycle
Quality Control
Test site
Create site
input
output
Quality
Refine site
Test results
Quality Assurance
QA Focus – Supporting JISC's 5/99 Programme

9. QA Focus – Supporting JISC's 5/99 Programme
Exercise 2
In small groups carry out Exercise 2:
‘QA Approaches to Identified Problems’
QA Focus – Supporting JISC's 5/99 Programme

10. QA Focus – Supporting JISC's 5/99 Programme
Questions
Any questions?
QA Focus – Supporting JISC's 5/99 Programme