In the realm of Product Development, Configuration Management is a crucial discipline that involves tracking and controlling changes to system components. At the heart of effective CM lies the concept of Configuration Items (CI). In this article, I’ll try to answer the question What are Configuration Items.
A Configuration Item refers to any components or element of a system that needs to be managed and controlled. CIs can encompass a wide range items including but not limited to:
- Hardware Devices
- Software and Software Modules
- Documentation
- Databases
To effectively manage and control CIs, it is essential to understand their key characteristics:
- Unique Identification: each CI must possess a unique identifier and differentiation from other items within the configuration management system. This identifier is assigned during the CI’s creation and remains unchanged throughout its lifecycle.
- Attributes: CIs possess various attributes that describe their characteristics, such as name, description, status, and type.
- Relationships: CIs often have relationships with other CIs within a system. These relationships provide valuable insights into the dependencies and interactions between different components.
- Lifecycle: CIs undergoes a series of lifecycle stages, including identification, modification, deployment, maintenance, change or retirement.
To ensure effective management of Configuration Items, organizations should consider the following:
- Establish a Configuration Management Plan
- Implement a Configuration Management Database (CMDB)
- Define and Enforce Configuration Standards
- Automation Configuration Management Processes
- Establish Change Control Processes
- Conduct Regular Configuration Audits
- Implement Version Control
- Establish Baseline Management
- Create a Safe Environment for Development
- Establish Documentation Practices
- Provide Training and Awareness
