Quality Assurance & Compliance Flashcards

Which of the following BEST illustrates the concept of 'quality gates' in a software delivery pipeline?

Answer: Predefined criteria that must be met before advancing to the next phase

Quality gates are predefined pass/fail criteria that must be satisfied before a project can proceed to the next lifecycle phase.

A tester is asked to verify that data entered in one country's version of an application complies with GDPR. What type of testing is this PRIMARILY?

Answer: Regulatory compliance testing

Verifying adherence to GDPR data protection requirements is regulatory compliance testing.

In a CMMI Level 4 organization, test performance is managed using quantitative data. Which practice BEST exemplifies this?

Answer: Setting statistical process control limits on defect injection rates

CMMI Level 4 (Quantitatively Managed) requires using statistical techniques to control process performance, such as SPC limits on defect rates.

A software release is blocked by a compliance team because the test evidence package is incomplete. Which missing artifact is MOST likely to cause a compliance block?

Answer: Signed-off requirements traceability matrix

A signed requirements traceability matrix proves every requirement was tested and approved, which is core evidence for compliance sign-off.

Which practice in QA is MOST associated with preventing defects rather than detecting them?

Answer: Static analysis and code reviews before testing begins

Static analysis and code reviews catch defects in artifacts before execution, embodying the QA principle of defect prevention.

What does 'validation' mean in the context of QA and compliance, as distinct from 'verification'?

Answer: Validation checks that the product meets user needs; verification checks it was built to specification

Verification asks 'Are we building the product right?' while validation asks 'Are we building the right product?' — validation confirms user needs are met.

An organization uses the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle for continuous quality improvement. In which phase would analyzing test metrics and audit findings occur?

Answer: Check

The Check phase involves evaluating results against objectives, including analyzing metrics and audit findings to assess performance.