How to Write Configuration Management Plans

I N T R O D U C T I O N

Configuration management (CM) is the regulation of the way in which a software product evolves during the development and maintenance phases of the product lifecycle. It is the process by which the individual components of a software system are identified so that any changes to the configuration of these components can be systematically traced and therefore controlled throughout the complete span of the development cycle. CM thus forms the basis for product and project measurement.

This How To Guide is based in large part on ANSI/IEEE 1042-1987.

S C O P E

This How To Guide describes the application of configuration management (CM) principles to the management of software development projects. CM consists of two major aspects; planning and implementation.

For those planning software configuration management activities, this standard provides guide-lines into the aspects which must be considered.

For those implementing software configuration management disciplines can use the sample Configuration Management Plan attached.

This How To Guide outlines the essential concepts of CM, including libraries and tools.

O B J E C T I V E S

To achieve the above, the objective of a project manager will be the identification and establishment of baselines; the review, approval, and control of changes to the project components; the tracking and reporting of such changes; the reviews of the evolving product; the control of documentation; and the control of the interfaces to the clients and supplier.

However it should be noted that this How To Guide specifies the minimum requirements, and therefore the project manager has the option where required, to expand and supplement as necessary for the development of specific project activities.

In specific terms, the objective of CM procedures are to provide methods for:

Contribution to IS Quality A structured and comprehensive approach to software design is known to be a major factor contributing to Information Systems Quality. Adequate configuration management is however often not performed, contributing to a higher number of software defects which impact the real and perceived quality of the software, as well as leading to time and expense being spent on rework and higher maintenance costs.

How to Write Configuration Management Plans is a plain-English, procedural guide to developing CM Plans that are both systematic and comprehensive. It contains detailed instructions and templates.

V I E W - S A M P L E S

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Note formatting may be affected in conversion from Word to HTML.

D O W N L O A D - F R E E - U S E F U L - S A M P L E S

Two brief (~10 pages each) how to guides can be downloaded for free. They are zip files containing rtf & pdf copies of the documents.

They are useful and relevant to any software development project and are intended to give prospective buyers of the full featured range of TCS how to guides an indication of their quality and usefulness.

Click here to download How to Perform Risk Management (.docx format).
Click here to download How to Perform Project Estimates (.docx format).

A B O U T T H E A U T H O R

How to Write Configuration Management Plans was written by David Tuffley, who combines a successful career as a quality management consultant with academic involvement at the School of ICT, at Griffith University, Australia, where he is doing postgraduate research in IS Quality.

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O R D E R Y O U R C O P Y N O W

This guide, proven over the past five years at large commercial and public sector sites, could save you thousands of dollars in consultancy fees. Or put it another way, you could not buy even an hour of a good consultant's time for the price of this valuable How To guide. Yet consultants routinely spend weeks or months implementing procedures similar to those contained in this guide.

Ordering your copy of this excellent How To guide for only US$24.95 is easy. Buy It

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Delivery Information. You will receive a download link by email soon after you place the order. The download contains the deliverables in MS Word (.docx) and PDF. The documents are your master copy.

How to Use the Documents. Save the master as a working document. Read the reference text that details what needs to be written, and to what level of detail. Then write what needs to be written, and delete the reference text, leaving the completed document. The structure is embodied in the template. Documents can be converted to HTML for intranet/internet delivery if desired, using your wordprocessor's inherent HTML conversion capabilities, or by using proprietary conversion software that builds contents hierarchies that greatly facilitates navigation. Contact TCS for more information.

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