Configuration Management Plan Overview

Introduction

The purpose of the Configuration Management Plan is to describe how configuration management (CM) will be conducted throughout the project lifecycle. This includes documenting how CM is managed, roles and responsibilities, how configuration item (CI) changes are made, and communicating all aspects of CM to project stakeholders. Without a documented configuration management plan, it is likely that CIs may be missed, incomplete, or unnecessary work is done because of a lack or version and document control. While a configuration management plan is important for all projects, this is especially so for software and other information technology (IT) projects.

A Configuration Management Plan (CMP) is a document that describes how configuration management (CM) will be conducted throughout the project lifecycle.

This includes:

1. Management of Configuration: Documenting how CM is managed, roles and responsibilities, how configuration item (CI) changes are made, and communicating all aspects of CM to project stakeholders.
2. Configuration Control Board (CCB): The CCB is comprised of the Project Sponsor, Project Manager, Configuration Manager, and the Lead Engineer for the configuration item (CI) under consideration.
3. Roles and Responsibilities: Clearly defining roles and responsibilities is an important part of any CMP. Any work that will be performed as part of the plan must be assigned to someone.

Example

Let’s consider the NexGen Project at Smith Company as an example. The project will utilize existing Smith Company network infrastructure and add numerous capabilities to allow for remote access, direct ability to modify LAN/WAN environments, and improved monitoring of network tools and devices. In order to effectively manage the NexGen Project, a coordinated Configuration Management (CM) Plan is needed. This plan will establish CM roles and responsibilities and describe how the NexGen Project team will track, implement, and communicate configuration items (CIs) and changes throughout the project lifecycle.

Please note that while a CMP is important for all projects, it is especially so for software and other information technology (IT) projects.

Remember, the purpose of a CMP is to maintain consistency in different engineering level tasks. Without this plan, the consistency of efficiency is either very low or high depending on teamwork, resource capacity management, and other technical requirements.

Comparison between CMP and PMP

A Configuration Management Plan (CMP) and a Project Management Plan (PMP) are both crucial components of project management, but they serve different purposes.

·? A CMP is a document that describes how configuration management will be conducted throughout the project lifecycle. It includes documenting how CM is managed, roles and responsibilities, how configuration item (CI) changes are made, and communicating all aspects of CM to project stakeholders.

·??On the other hand, a PMP is a comprehensive document that communicates vital project information to all stakeholders. It includes the project’s objectives, scope, deliverables, schedule, budget, quality standards, and more.

In essence, a CMP guides you in making changes specific to the Product Configuration, whereas a PMP guides the Project Manager in terms of making any kind of change on the project, especially the ones that can impact the baselines (scope, time, cost baselines).

Detailed Information for All Sections of CMP

A CMP typically includes the following sections:

1. Introduction: This section provides an overview of the project and the purpose of the CMP.
2. Configuration Management Policies, Roles, and Responsibilities: This section outlines the policies for managing configurations, the roles and responsibilities of team members, and the standards to be followed.
3. Configuration Identification: This section describes the methodology for selecting and naming configuration items that need to be placed under configuration management.
4. Configuration Control: This section outlines the process for managing updates to the baseline configurations for the configuration items.
5. Configuration Status Accounting: This section describes the process for assessing or testing the level of compliance with the established baseline configuration and mechanisms for reporting on the configuration status of items placed under configuration management.
6. Configuration Audits: This section outlines the process for conducting audits to ensure that the product or system adheres to the configuration requirements.
7. Configuration Management Tools: This section describes the tools and technologies that will be used for configuration management.
8. Training Requirements: This section outlines the training needs for team members to effectively implement and manage configurations.

Remember, the purpose of a CMP is to maintain consistency in different engineering level tasks. Without this plan, the consistency of efficiency is either very low or high depending on teamwork, resource capacity management, and other technical requirements.

There are several popular tools used for configuration management. Here are some of them:

1. Auvik: A cloud-based network management tool that offers true network visibility and control.
2. ManageEngine Endpoint Central: A tool employed to keep sensitive business data secure.
3. SolarWinds Server Configuration Monitor: This tool helps to detect, track, and resolve configuration changes.
4. Tripwire? Enterprise: A security configuration management (SCM) suite that provides fully integrated solutions for policy, file integrity, and remediation management.
5. SysAid: An IT service management solution that offers a powerful set of IT management tools.
6. CFEngine Configuration Tool: A configuration management tool designed to provide automated configuration and maintenance of large-scale computer systems.
7. Puppet Configuration Tool: An open-source software configuration management tool.
8. CHEF Configuration Tool: A powerful automation platform that transforms complex infrastructure into code
9. Ansible Configuration Tool: A simple IT automation engine that automates cloud provisioning, configuration management, application deployment, intra-service orchestration, and many other IT needs.
10. SALTSTACK Configuration Tool: A Python-based open-source configuration management software and remote execution engine.
11. 11.??? JUJU Configuration Tool: An open-source application modelling tool developed by Canonical Ltd
12. 12.??? RUDDER: An easy-to-use, web-driven, role-based solution for IT Infrastructure Automation and Compliance.
13. Bamboo Configuration Management: A continuous integration and delivery tool that ties automated builds, tests, and releases together in a single workflow.
14. TeamCity Configuration Tool: A build management and continuous integration server from JetBrains.
15. Octopus Deploy: An automated deployment and release management server.

These tools help in application deployment, automated provisioning, infrastructure automation, node management, orchestration, role-based access control, and task management. They provide automation for infrastructure, cloud, compliance and security management, and integration for deployment and continuous deployment (CI/CD).

Project Team member may have following questions on CMP which should get answered while preparing CMP

1. How do project team member know that they are working on latest version of document?
2. How should you store the original and revised version documents
3. How should you differentiate the approved revision and non-approved versions of them?
4. How is going to be responsible for the configuration management? ?

Sample Questions form PMP Exam

1. Question: The project manager develops a process improvement plan to encourage continuous process improvement during the life of the project.?Which of the following is a valid tool or technique to assist the project manager to assure the success of the process improvement plan?

• A. Change control system
• B. Process analysis
• C. Benchmarking
• D. Configuration management system 2. Question: You are managing a project to build five bridges. The project consists of five sequential phases with each phase delivering one bridge.?After the first phase of the project is complete, which process group of the second phase should follow?

o?? A. Initiating

o?? B. Planning

o?? C. Executing

o?? D. Closing

3.?????? Question: The project aims to investigate the feasibility of constructing a hydroelectric dam from a technical, economic, and social point of view. The project charter created by the project manager on behalf of the project sponsor is now approved.?Which of the following processes should be performed next?

o?? A. Develop Project Management Plan

o?? B. Identify Risks

o?? C. Identify Stakeholders

o?? D. Develop Project Charter

4.?????? Question: You are managing a project to build a new software application. During the project execution, a team member identifies a potential enhancement to the functionality that was not part of the original project scope.?What should be your next step?

o?? A. Implement the enhancement as it will add value to the project.

o?? B. Reject the enhancement as it was not part of the original scope.

o?? C. Evaluate the impact of the enhancement on the project objectives.

o?? D. Ask the team member to not suggest enhancements in the future.

5.?????? Question: The project manager develops a process improvement plan to encourage continuous process improvement during the life of the project.?Which of the following is a valid tool or technique to assist the project manager to assure the success of the process improvement plan?

o?? A. Change control system

o?? B. Process analysis

o?? C. Benchmarking

o?? D. Configuration management system

6.?????? Question: A project manager is working on a project that is in the execution phase. A major stakeholder requests a change that would significantly expand the project scope but would not affect the project schedule.?What should the project manager do first?

o?? A. Update the project management plan.

o?? B. Perform a cost-benefit analysis.

o?? C. Update the project scope statement.

o?? D. Evaluate the impact of the change on the other project constraints.

7.?????? Question: During the execution of a project to build a complex software system, a project manager is informed by a team member that a certain component of the system could be purchased from a vendor and modified slightly to fit the needs of the project. This could potentially save the project time and cost.?What should the project manager do next?

o?? A. Purchase the component from the vendor.

o?? B. Ignore the suggestion as it was not part of the original plan.

o?? C. Evaluate the impact of this change on the project constraints.

o?? D. Tell the team member to focus on his assigned tasks.

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