Perform Quality Control vs. Verify Scope

Most PMP aspirants get confused between Perform Quality Control and Verify Scope. If I had to list the top 5 most-confused topics for the PMP Exam, this topic would be on that list. This article aims to clear the confusion by bringing out on the key differences between the 2 processes and reinforcing the concepts with examples. I suggest that you refer to the PMBOK Guide, Fourth edition and a good PMP Exam Prep book or course material for a more comprehensive explanation of all the inputs, tools and techniques and outputs of these processes.

So, let's look at the 2 processes closely:

1. Perform Quality Control is about ensuring that the deliverables meet the quality requirements defined in the Quality Management plan. Verify Scope is about formalizing the acceptance of deliverables.
2. Perform Quality Control belongs to Project Quality Management process group, whereas Verify Scope is under Project Scope Management.
3. Perform Quality Control is focused on correctness of the deliverables whereas Verify Scope is focused on acceptance of deliverables.
4. Perform Quality Control is usually done by the Quality Control department, whereas Verify Scope is done by customer or sponsor. In Verify Scope process, the project manager holds several meetings with the customer or sponsor to review the deliverables to ensure that the deliverables are completed satisfactorily.
5. Perform Quality Control is usually done before Verify Scope, but these processes can be performed in parallel.
6. Validated deliverables, which are an output of Perform Quality Control, are an input to Verify Scope. The output of Verify Scope are Accepted Deliverables.
7. Both Perform Quality Control and Verify Scope are done as part of Monitor and Control process group, but Verify Scope can also be done at the end of each project phase to validate the deliverables of each phase.
8. Both Perform Quality Control and Verify Scope processes can result in change requests.

Take the example of IT Systems project. Code (or peer) review, Unit Test, System Test, Functional Test, Regression Test fall under Perform Quality Control. User Acceptance Test falls under Verify Scope.

Let's take another example to drive home the point. Suppose you want to get your house renovated. You hire a contractor for the job, provide all the requirements and sign the contract. Now as the contractor is doing the job, it is the contractor's responsibility to ensure that the work or deliverables are meeting the quality standards established for the project. The contractor ensures that the floors are leveled, the paint is uniform, the electrical switches work, the locks work etc. This is an example of Perform Quality Control.

As different sections of the house (such as the living room, bedrooms and kitchen) are getting complete, the contractor invites you to inspect the work and make sure it meets your requirements. This is an example of Verify Scope.

Let's say when you inspect the first bedroom, you find that the paint finish on the wall is glossy, but you had requested matte finish. You discuss it with the contractor and the contractor agrees to fix it according to your requirements (change request). Now imagine what would have happened if you had waited until the whole house had been renovated, before making the inspection. It would have been a huge deal to repaint the entire house.

Think of Verify Scope as checkpoints during the course of the project to ensure that the project is on-track from the customer's point of view. If you wait until the final acceptance of the project in the "Close Project" process, it might be too late to make any changes. The Verify Scope process reduces the project risk.

I hope you can appreciate the difference between Perform Quality Control and Verify Scope better and see how they fit into Project Management.

Image credit: Flickr / blvesboy