In a Nutshell: Software Configuration Management
The concept of configuration management has been used by businesses worldwide for more than fifty years. Originally developed by the U.S. military, this modality has been adopted and adapted for application in a number of industries.
That’s great, but what exactly is configuration management? Essentially, configuration management is a model of the life cycle of the product, process or information. This is something like a blueprint for any project it adjusts to, basically. Speaking generally, four elements make up configuration management – identification, change control/management, status accounting as well as verification. To discuss these elements, briefly, we have to tell you about some terms.
Identification determines the qualities of a configuration item. A particular product will have an end user, such as a software or specific piece of equipment. Change control includes an approval process as well as the protocols necessary to change a configuration. Status accounting is the ability to check an item against the “blueprint” given by the configuration management model originating from the identification process – and last of all, status accounting is ensuring that changes made in a configuration item has gone exactly according to plan.
This check can be done when a change has occurred or once the product is completed, preferably both. Configuration management may sound highly complex, and it certainly can be. It is, however, the preferred method of project management for complex, intricate endeavors that require an involved, multi-step process. Working with a configuration management system avoids an inordinate amount of challenge when implementing incremental modifications in a process or product over time. Of course, it is not performed by drawing flowcharts on a chalkboard — not in today’s world.
This kind of software allows for ease in tracking and managing the production process. While it is still very much in use by the military, configuration management is used by project managers in a host of disciplines, most notably in software development.
Very much like the complex weapon system, a single piece of software goes through steps before emerging as a finished product ready for use – configuration management software aids in the having to watch over this often complex, labyrinthine process. This concept software offers dozens of options, including some that are offered free of charge on the Internet.
Some are created for a specific set of tasks (e.g., managing UNIX network changes), while other options can handle a broader range of projects. Configuration management can help you manage complicated processes and cycles, no matter what specific field you’re using it for. With configuration management software, you don’t have to spend effort on this and can be more productive in the meantime.