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Does PMWar portal has a wrong question and incorrect answer on "ControlLimits"?

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Arvind Tripathi Director of PM/PMO| Flowserve Irving, Tx, United States
Please look at this question posted on "PMWar" section of PM.com (I have surmised it in simpler language to avoid the controversy on the question itself):

Q: Who decides "Control Limits" of a process?:

a- Project Manager
b- The stakeholders
c- Both of these
d- None of these

The posted answer says "c" Both of these. My take is based on years of learning and experience in Statistics, is that the correct answer is "d". The reason is that "Control Limits" (meaning Statistical Process Control Limits" are based on the "past performance of the process" only and NONE of the answers a,b, or c. Please share your thoughts on this topic. Thank you!

- Arvind, PMP & a veteran statistician :-)
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Stéphane Parent Self Employed / Semi-retired| Leader Maker Prince Edward Island, Canada
I remember the question, Arvind. My first instinct was to go with d, as well. This is because I thought it fell to the QA organizational unit. I guess they probably lump them under stakeholders (b).
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Rami Kaibni
Community Champion
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten Associates New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
PMI ,as far as I am aware, defines a Stakeholder as anyone involved in the project directly or indirectly even the public so team members are included under stakeholders as well as the project manager because at some point he can be on a part-time basis in a matrix or functional organization so I believe the correct Answer is "C".
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2 replies by Arvind Tripathi
Dec 13, 2015 2:39 PM
Arvind Tripathi
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Hello Rami,

Thanks for ur response. I agree with everything that you wrote in your explanation but that still does NOT make C as the correct answer. Pl see my explanation above.

Thanks.

Arvind
Jan 13, 2017 5:27 PM
Arvind Tripathi
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aRami,

Thank you for your prompt response. Please provide a reference from PMBOK for the rational for your choice on the answer. A simple cut and paste will be great.

As you know, many of PMBOK approaches/ definitions are not always consistent with our common understanding of the terms but let us still keep our conversation within what PMBOK says on this.

Thank you!

Arvind
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MAEN QADDOURAH Project Director| AJ SAUDI Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
answer is B
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1 reply by Arvind Tripathi
Jan 13, 2017 4:01 PM
Arvind Tripathi
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OK. But why do you say that B is the answer. i provided my rational for why D is the right answer.
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Mohamed Sobair Principal Solution Architecture| Freelance Riyadh, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
The answer is "C".

Control limits defines the acceptable range of variation to determine if the process is in-control or out-of-control. and its normally calculated based on +/- 3 Sigma.

The Project Manager and the Stakeholders Sets the Upper and Lower Control Limits.
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2 replies by Arvind Tripathi
Dec 13, 2015 3:04 PM
Arvind Tripathi
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Hello!
I fully agree with your statement in para 1. However, your 2nd statement contradicts with #1 if I am reading this coorectly. Just based on your 1st statement (true), D is the best answer. Right?
Dec 13, 2015 3:08 PM
Arvind Tripathi
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I fully agree with ur statement and also consider it to be true but ur statement contradicts the first one. Just based on ur statement. D is the best answer. Right?
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Arvind Tripathi Director of PM/PMO| Flowserve Irving, Tx, United States
Dec 12, 2015 8:19 PM
Replying to Rami Kaibni
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PMI ,as far as I am aware, defines a Stakeholder as anyone involved in the project directly or indirectly even the public so team members are included under stakeholders as well as the project manager because at some point he can be on a part-time basis in a matrix or functional organization so I believe the correct Answer is "C".
Hello Rami,

Thanks for ur response. I agree with everything that you wrote in your explanation but that still does NOT make C as the correct answer. Pl see my explanation above.

Thanks.

Arvind
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1 reply by Rami Kaibni
Jan 13, 2017 4:46 PM
Rami Kaibni
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Hi Arvind,

Yes, I saw your rational but from my point of view, I still believe C is the correct answer due to the rational I gave. Sometimes there is no definite correct answer and the answer is just different from one to another based on the experience and point of views.

Regards,
RK
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Arvind Tripathi Director of PM/PMO| Flowserve Irving, Tx, United States
Dec 13, 2015 9:09 AM
Replying to Mohamed Sobair
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The answer is "C".

Control limits defines the acceptable range of variation to determine if the process is in-control or out-of-control. and its normally calculated based on +/- 3 Sigma.

The Project Manager and the Stakeholders Sets the Upper and Lower Control Limits.
Hello!
I fully agree with your statement in para 1. However, your 2nd statement contradicts with #1 if I am reading this coorectly. Just based on your 1st statement (true), D is the best answer. Right?
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Arvind Tripathi Director of PM/PMO| Flowserve Irving, Tx, United States
Sorry! I was responding g to the wrong person.
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Arvind Tripathi Director of PM/PMO| Flowserve Irving, Tx, United States
Dec 13, 2015 9:09 AM
Replying to Mohamed Sobair
...
The answer is "C".

Control limits defines the acceptable range of variation to determine if the process is in-control or out-of-control. and its normally calculated based on +/- 3 Sigma.

The Project Manager and the Stakeholders Sets the Upper and Lower Control Limits.
I fully agree with ur statement and also consider it to be true but ur statement contradicts the first one. Just based on ur statement. D is the best answer. Right?
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fosco frongia Senior project manager| ENTE PATRIMONIALE CHIESA GESU' CRISTO SUG Fino Mornasco, Como, Italy
the limits of control should be defined by expert based on the tolerance expressed by part of stakeholders and the target is required (e.g. we have reach 6 sigma target). these limits influence the definition of the process we have to apply.
Based on these considerations i think the correct answer is b) ... although not every stakeholders
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1 reply by Arvind Tripathi
Dec 13, 2015 9:04 PM
Arvind Tripathi
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Hello Fosco,

Thanks for your response. Where do you find the arguments that 'control limits' are defined by the experts as I do not find any Quality literature supporting that. I should know as a Certified Master Black Belt :-). In Leas and Sux Sigma.

However, your next sentence says that we have reached 6 Sigma target. We have no evidence given that in the question itself and we really do not know if it is coming from a Six Sigma process. Even if I agree with your statement that it is coming from Sux Sigma process than it is clearly not coming from any person or group. It is coming from the process itself. Please google 'how control limits' are set for a process and you will find a number of articles with full details on this topic.
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Arvind Tripathi Director of PM/PMO| Flowserve Irving, Tx, United States
Dec 13, 2015 6:08 PM
Replying to fosco frongia
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the limits of control should be defined by expert based on the tolerance expressed by part of stakeholders and the target is required (e.g. we have reach 6 sigma target). these limits influence the definition of the process we have to apply.
Based on these considerations i think the correct answer is b) ... although not every stakeholders
Hello Fosco,

Thanks for your response. Where do you find the arguments that 'control limits' are defined by the experts as I do not find any Quality literature supporting that. I should know as a Certified Master Black Belt :-). In Leas and Sux Sigma.

However, your next sentence says that we have reached 6 Sigma target. We have no evidence given that in the question itself and we really do not know if it is coming from a Six Sigma process. Even if I agree with your statement that it is coming from Sux Sigma process than it is clearly not coming from any person or group. It is coming from the process itself. Please google 'how control limits' are set for a process and you will find a number of articles with full details on this topic.
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