Configuration management is particularly important during th

Configuration management is particularly important during the transition from system development to production. Identify four specific areas where close attention to configuration management is crucial during this phase transition and explain why.

Solution

A \" Configuration \" consists of the functional, physical and interface characteristics of existing or planned hardware, firmware, software or a combination thereof as set forth in technical documentation and ultimately achieved in a product. The configuration is formally expressed in relation to a functional, Allocated or product configuration baseline.

Configuration managment permits the orderly development of a system, subsystem or configuration item. A good configuration managment program ensures that designs are traceable to requirements, that change is controlled and documented, that interfaces are defined and understood, and that there is consistency between the product and its supporting documentation. Configuration managment provides documentation hat describes what is supported to be produced, what is being produced, waht has been produced, and what modifications have been made to what was produced.

A key concept that affects planning is the configuration item (CI). CI decisions will determine what configurations will be managed. CIs are an aggregation of hardware, firmware, or computer software, or any of their discrete portions, which satisfies an end-use function and is designated for separate configuration management. Any item required for logistic support and designated for separate procurement is generally identified as CI. Components can be designated CIs because of crucial interfaces or the need to be integrated with operation with other components within or outside of the system. An item can be designated CI if it is developed wholly or partially with government funds, including nondevelopmental items (NDI) if additional development of technical data is required. All CIs are directly traceable to the WBS.

CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE :-

Configuration management comprises four interrelated efforts:

Also directly associated with configuration management are data management and interface management. Any configuration management planning effort must consider all six elements.

Configuration Control :-

Configuration Control is the systematic proposal, justification, prioritization, evaluation, coordination, approval or disapproval, and implementation of all approved changes in the configuration of a system/CI after formal establishment of its baseline. In other words, it is how a system (and its CIs) change control process is executed and managed.

Configuration Control provides management visibility, ensures all factors associated with a proposed change are evaluated, prevents unnecessary or marginal changes, and establishes change priorities. In DoD it consists primarily of a change process that formalizes documentation and provides a management structure for change approval.