Quality Assurance & Improvement Flashcards

The ISO 9001 standard requires organizations to demonstrate which core principle as part of its quality management system?

Answer: Evidence-based decision making

ISO 9001 emphasizes evidence-based decision making as one of its seven quality management principles to ensure decisions are based on analysis of data.

A gap analysis in archival quality improvement is primarily used to identify what?

Answer: The difference between current performance and desired performance

Gap analysis measures the distance between where a program currently stands and where it wants to be, guiding improvement priorities.

Which document serves as the primary basis for conducting a periodic program review in many archives quality frameworks?

Answer: Strategic plan

The strategic plan provides measurable goals and objectives against which periodic program reviews assess progress and alignment.

In quality improvement, a 'fishbone' (Ishikawa) diagram helps archivists do what?

Answer: Trace the root causes of a quality problem

Fishbone diagrams organize potential causes of a problem into categories (e.g., people, processes, equipment) to identify root causes.

Which of the following best describes a leading indicator in archival performance measurement?

Answer: Staff training hours completed to predict future processing quality

Leading indicators predict future performance; training hours signal likely improvements in processing quality before results appear.

Under a continuous improvement culture, how should archival staff be encouraged to treat errors discovered during processing?

Answer: As opportunities to identify systemic weaknesses and improve procedures

Continuous improvement frameworks treat errors as learning opportunities to surface and fix systemic root causes rather than blame individuals.

Which accreditation body offers a program-level review specifically designed for archival repositories in the United States?

Answer: Society of American Archivists (SAA)

SAA administers the Archival Certification program and, through its Registered Archivist credential, sets professional standards reviewed by its committees.