How do you design and implement a configuration management plan and policy?

Begin by conducting a thorough assessment of your current configuration management practices, tools, and processes. Identify existing strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement to inform the design of an effective configuration management plan.

There is a parallel initiative that you must engage prior to understanding your organizational culture. Areas of focus should be on: - Who are your stakeholders? - How will each consume CMDB data? - How will you protect and ensure the integrity of said data? - Converting stakeholder needs into value realized.

To design and implement a configuration management plan, start by assessing the current state, reviewing existing processes, tools, and gaps. Define objectives, scope, roles, and CMDB structure. Create clear processes for managing CIs and set up compliance checks. Develop a policy outlining purpose, scope, and guidelines. Implement the plan by deploying a CMDB, recording CIs, and training staff. Monitor progress and audit regularly to ensure data accuracy and continuous improvement.

While this assessment of current state should include all technical areas (e.g., potential integration opportunities), it must also include discussions with stakeholders to see what they need from the CMDB. These conversations will drive the scope conversations

Clearly define the scope of your configuration management plan by outlining the systems, assets, and components it will cover. Establish specific objectives such as ensuring accuracy, consistency, and control of configurations to guide the implementation process effectively.

To define the scope and objectives of your configuration management (CM) plan, start by outlining what CIs you will manage, how they will be classified, and the level of detail to record. Your objectives should clarify what you aim to achieve, such as improving service quality, reducing risks, or supporting change management. Ensure both scope and objectives are clear, realistic, and measurable, so they can guide the process effectively and lead to tangible improvements in your IT services.

Critical. Define the following as part of the scope statement. Keep this effort targeted to stakeholder requirements. Configuration Items: - Identification criteria - Every attribute should have a source - Roles and responsibilities (RASI) - Risk determination / mitigation considerations - Impact assessment criteria

Scope should be defined by policies and be iterative in nature. Most organizations struggle when they take on too much scope initially. Additionally, there must be a governance mechanism for scope expansion.

Every process - like configuration management - and their respective process activities must have roles and responsibilities defined. There's no way to be successful if everyone does not know their role and what is expected

Assign clear roles and responsibilities within the configuration management plan to ensure accountability and ownership. Define who will be responsible for configuration identification, control, status accounting, and verification activities to streamline implementation and foster collaboration.

Assigning roles and responsibilities for configuration management (CM) involves identifying individuals or teams responsible for key CM activities, such as planning, identification, control, status accounting, verification, and auditing. Define each role's authority, accountability, and communication channels to ensure clarity. A RACI matrix is a helpful tool to document who is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed for each task, preventing confusion and ensuring smooth collaboration among stakeholders.

After setting your scope, objectives, roles, and responsibilities, it's necessary to lay down the procedures and standards for Configuration Management (CM). The procedures outline the execution of each CM activity, like identifying, recording, updating, and verifying Configuration Items (CIs). The standards set the quality benchmarks and guidelines for CM, such as the methods for naming, labeling, storing, and securing CIs. It's important to document your procedures and standards in a comprehensible and uniform manner, and ensure they are accessible to all pertinent parties.

This entire effort from start to ongoing bau needs to be a team effort with your stakeholders. This is not a solo journey. Configuration Management = Enablement We enable stakeholders in countless ways. However we need to understand what our core service offerings are before we can excel at delivering them.

After defining scope, objectives, roles, and responsibilities, establish procedures and standards for configuration management (CM). Procedures outline how CM activities will be performed, such as identifying, recording, updating, and verifying CIs. Standards set quality criteria, like naming, labeling, storing, and securing CIs. Ensure procedures and standards are clearly documented and accessible to relevant stakeholders to maintain consistency and compliance across all CM activities.

Select and set up the tools that will back your Configuration Management (CM) plan and policy. These tools are the software or hardware systems that will assist you in managing your Configuration Items (CIs) and their interconnections, like a Configuration Management Database (CMDB) or a Configuration Management System (CMS). You should opt for tools that align with your needs, budget, and integration requirements. Additionally, you should tailor these tools to your procedures and standards, and conduct tests on them prior to their utilization.

The last step is selecting and configuring tools to support your configuration management plan, such as a CMDB or CMS. Choose tools that fit your requirements, budget, and integration needs. Once selected, configure the tools based on your CM procedures and standards. Make sure to test them thoroughly before full implementation to ensure they work properly and align with your objectives for managing CIs and their relationships effectively.

Good points and I agree with them all. I believe this could be taken down to a more granular level to maximize value of the article. Focus should always be on the CMS and not just the CMDB. The CM needs to be 8 months out with actionable plans. 2 years out with strategic planning. 5 years out for CMS automated / AI driven delivery opportunities.