In Project Quality Management, which of the following combinations correctly identifies a typical input, a tool or technique, and a primary output of the Quality Planning process according to the PMBOK Guide?

Introduction / Context:
Quality Planning is the process in Project Quality Management where the project team identifies relevant quality standards for the project and determines how to satisfy them. It sets the foundation for later quality assurance and quality control activities by defining metrics, checklists, and procedures. Knowing which inputs, tools and techniques, and outputs belong to Quality Planning is important for PMP exam questions that differentiate quality planning from execution and control.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The knowledge area is Project Quality Management.
• The process in focus is Quality Planning or Plan Quality.
• We want one representative input, one tool or technique, and one primary output.
• A project scope statement exists and describes the product and project scope.
• The goal is to define how quality will be planned, measured, and documented.

Concept / Approach:
Quality Planning uses inputs such as the project scope statement, stakeholder register, cost baseline, schedule, and enterprise environmental factors. A commonly referenced tool is cost benefit analysis, where the team compares the costs of quality activities with the expected benefits, such as reduced rework or increased customer satisfaction. The primary output is the quality management plan, which describes how quality policies will be implemented, which standards apply, which metrics will be used, and which checklists and process improvements are planned.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Select a logical input. The project scope statement provides key information about deliverables and acceptance criteria, making it central to planning quality standards. Step 2: Identify a relevant tool or technique. Cost benefit analysis is a typical quality planning tool used to justify the level of quality efforts. Step 3: Determine the primary output. The quality management plan is the core document produced by Quality Planning, guiding all future quality activities. Step 4: Compare the answers and choose the combination scope statement, cost benefit analysis, and quality management plan. Step 5: Confirm that other options are clearly associated with scope verification, schedule development, cost control, or human resource management.

Verification / Alternative check:
According to PMBOK style ITTO tables, Plan Quality uses project scope statement, stakeholder register, cost performance baseline, schedule baseline, risk register, and enterprise environmental factors as inputs. Tools and techniques include cost benefit analysis, cost of quality, control charts, benchmarking, design of experiments, and quality function deployment. Outputs include quality management plan, quality metrics, quality checklists, process improvement plan, and project document updates. This confirms that the combination in the correct option reflects the core of the process.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B belongs to scope verification or validate scope. Option C is part of time management. Option D describes cost control activities. Option E refers to acquiring the project team. None of these options captures the specific combination of quality planning inputs, tools, and outputs.

Common Pitfalls:
A common pitfall is to assume that quality management begins only during execution, ignoring the need for early planning. Another mistake is to confuse cost of quality and cost benefit analysis; both are used during quality planning but serve different purposes. For exam questions that present ITTO combinations, remember that Quality Planning links the scope statement and other planning outputs with tools such as cost benefit analysis to produce the quality management plan.

Final Answer:
The correct ITTO combination for Quality Planning is scope statement; cost benefit analysis; quality management plan.