Quality Assurance & Improvement Flashcards

During a surveillance review of a control account, the reviewer finds that reported percent complete is based on the CAM's subjective judgment rather than the documented quantifiable backup data. What quality issue does this represent?

Answer: A deviation from the earned value technique defined in the work authorization documents

Earned value must be measured using the technique documented for the work package, not subjective judgment, or data integrity is compromised.

A CAM discovers that actual costs are being recorded in a different control account than where the budget and earned value reside. What is the primary quality concern?

Answer: A misalignment that distorts cost variances and violates EVMS guideline consistency

Budget, earned value, and actuals must align in the same control account or cost variances become meaningless.

Which activity best supports continuous improvement of a contractor's Earned Value Management System after initial validation?

Answer: Conducting periodic internal surveillance reviews and correcting root causes of findings

Ongoing internal surveillance with root-cause corrective action keeps the EVMS compliant and improving over time.

During a data quality check, a CAM notices a work package showing earned value with zero actual costs for three consecutive months. What should the CAM do first?

Answer: Investigate whether actuals are being charged to the wrong account or accruals are missing

Earned value without actuals typically signals mischarging or missing accruals, which must be investigated before any data changes.

A corrective action plan from an EVMS surveillance finding is considered fully closed when which condition is met?

Answer: The corrective action is implemented and verified effective, addressing the root cause

Closure requires verified implementation and effectiveness against the root cause, not just acknowledgment or passage of time.

Which practice most directly protects the integrity of the performance measurement baseline during quality reviews?

Answer: Ensuring all baseline changes are processed through formal, documented change control

Formal, traceable change control is the core safeguard that keeps the baseline valid and auditable.

In preparing for an Integrated Baseline Review (IBR), a CAM's primary quality-focused objective is to demonstrate what?

Answer: That the baseline realistically captures the full scope, schedule, budget, and identified risks of the control account

An IBR validates that the baseline is realistic, complete, and risk-informed, not that performance is variance-free.