Initiation Audit

Definition

Initiation audit is the quality control task during which the baseline of deliverable work products at the initiation phase complete milestone is independently audited.

Objectives

The typical objectives of an initiation audit are to:

• Determine if a milestone has been successfully met:
  • Determine if the associated baseline of work products is complete.
  • Determine if the baseline’s work products:
    • Have passed their associated evaluations (e.g., inspections, testing).
    • Have been properly identified (i.e., configuration identification).
    • Are ready for release to the customer organization.
• Reduce risk by obtaining an independent assessment of the milestone’s status.
• Provide recommendations for improving future activities.

Preconditions

An initiation audit may typically be held when the following preconditions hold:

• The scheduled date for the initiation phase complete milestone has arrived.
• The quality team is adequately staffed and trained in performing an initiation audit.
• The baseline of work products are available for audit by the quality team.

Completion Criteria

An initiation audit is typically complete when the following postconditions hold:

• The baseline has passed the initiation audit.
• The initiation audit report has been accepted by the customer representative.

Steps

An initiation audit typically involves the following producers performing the following steps in an iterative, incremental, and parallel manner:

• Quality Team:
  • Determine the work products that should form the baseline for the initiation phase complete milestone.
  • Determine if the baseline actually contains the correct (e.g., latest) version of each of its component work products.
  • Determine if the work products are ready for release to the customer organization (e.g., have passed inspection and are approved by their approver roles.).
  • Document the finding of the initiation audit in the audit report.
  • Deliver the initiation audit report to the customer representative and endeavor manager.

Techniques

An initiation audit can typically be performed using the following techniques:

• Auditing

Work Products

An initiation audit typically produces all or part of the following work products:

• Quality Set:
  • Initiation Phase Complete Audit Report.

Guidelines

• The baseline of work products to be audited is documented in the initiation phase complete milestone.