***SOFTWARE QUALITY & SYSTEMS ENGINEERING PROGRAM***

***Software Configuration Management Checklist***

The following checklist is intended to provide system owners, project
managers, configuration managers, and other information system
development and maintenance professionals with guidance in identifying
and planning software configuration management (SCM) activities. The
checklist reflects recognized SCM activities to be performed throughout
the information system (IS) life cycle.

Software configuration management is generally characterized as the
control of changes to software (inclusive of documentation) during the
initiation, development, and operation phases of the IS life cycle.

The objectives of SCM are summarized as follows:

-   Ensure the orderly release and implementation of new/revised
    software and related documentation.

-   Implement only approved changes to both new and existing software.

-   Verify that software changes comply with approved specifications.

-   Reflect changes and updates in project documentation.

-   Provide visibility of changes to project management.

-   Evaluate and communicate the impact of changes.

-   Prevent unauthorized changes from being made.

Implementation of SCM involves four basic mechanics: identification,
control, auditing, and status accounting of software configuration items
(SCIs).

*Note: The degree to which the following SCM activities are applied may
vary with the nature, scope, size and complexity of a project.*

+------------------------------------+------------------+--------------+
| **Software Configuration           | **SEM            | **Comments** |
| Management Checklist**             | Reference**      |              |
+====================================+==================+==============+
| A SCM procedural                   | Chapter 3,       |              |
| guidance/methodology (i.e.,        |                  |              |
| ANSI/IEEE Std. 1042, etc.) is      | Develop Software |              |
| identified and followed.           | Configuration    |              |
|                                    | Management Plan  |              |
+------------------------------------+------------------+--------------+
| Resources necessary to perform     | Chapter 3,       |              |
| software configuration management  |                  |              |
| (SCM) on the project (i.e.,        | Develop Software |              |
| estimated staff, CM tools, etc.)   | Configuration    |              |
| are identified.                    | Management Plan  |              |
+------------------------------------+------------------+--------------+
| A Software Configuration           | Chapter 3,       |              |
| Management Plan (SCMP) is          |                  |              |
| developed and approved for each    | Develop Software |              |
| software project according to a    | Configuration    |              |
| documented procedure ( i.e.,       | Management Plan  |              |
| ANSI/IEEE Std. 1042, etc.).        |                  |              |
+------------------------------------+------------------+--------------+
| Configuration identification,      | Chapter 3,       |              |
| control, auditing, and status      |                  |              |
| accounting are addressed by the    | Develop Software |              |
| SCMP.                              | Configuration    |              |
|                                    | Management Plan  |              |
+------------------------------------+------------------+--------------+
| SCM activities comply with a       | Chapter 3,       |              |
| written organizational policy.     |                  |              |
|                                    | Develop Software |              |
|                                    | Configuration    |              |
|                                    | Management Plan  |              |
+------------------------------------+------------------+--------------+
| A controlling authority for        | Chapter 3,       |              |
| managing the project=s software    |                  |              |
| baselines (i.e., a software        | Develop Software |              |
| configuration control board -      | Configuration    |              |
| SCCB) exists. Note: The structure  | Management Plan  |              |
| of an SCCB depends upon the size   |                  |              |
| and complexity of the              |                  |              |
| project/information system.        |                  |              |
+------------------------------------+------------------+--------------+
| A group responsible for            | Chapter 3,       |              |
| establishing SCM on the project    |                  |              |
| exists.                            | Develop Software |              |
|                                    | Configuration    |              |
|                                    | Management Plan  |              |
+------------------------------------+------------------+--------------+
| SCM personnel are trained in the   |                  |              |
| objectives, procedures, and        |                  |              |
| methods for performing SCM         |                  |              |
| activities.                        |                  |              |
+------------------------------------+------------------+--------------+
| Members of the software            |                  |              |
| engineering group and other        |                  |              |
| software-related groups are        |                  |              |
| trained to perform their SCM       |                  |              |
| activities.                        |                  |              |
+------------------------------------+------------------+--------------+
| Software work products to be       | Chapter 3,       |              |
| placed under SCM are identified.   |                  |              |
|                                    | Develop Software |              |
|                                    | Configuration    |              |
|                                    | Management Plan  |              |
+------------------------------------+------------------+--------------+
| A SCM library system is            | Chapter 3,       |              |
| established as a software baseline |                  |              |
| repository.                        | Develop Software |              |
|                                    | Configuration    |              |
|                                    | Management Plan  |              |
+------------------------------------+------------------+--------------+
| Change requests and problem        | Chapter 3,       |              |
| reports for all configuration      |                  |              |
| items/units are developed,         | Develop Software |              |
| initiated, recorded, reviewed,     | Configuration    |              |
| approved, and tracked according to | Management Plan  |              |
| a documented procedure.            |                  |              |
+------------------------------------+------------------+--------------+
| Changes to baselines are           | Chapter 3,       |              |
| controlled according to a          |                  |              |
| documented procedure.              | Develop Software |              |
|                                    | Configuration    |              |
|                                    | Management Plan  |              |
+------------------------------------+------------------+--------------+
| Products from the software         | Chapter 3,       |              |
| baseline library are created and   |                  |              |
| released according to a documented | Develop Software |              |
| procedure.                         | Configuration    |              |
|                                    | Management Plan  |              |
+------------------------------------+------------------+--------------+
| Configuration item/unit status is  | Chapter 3,       |              |
| recorded according to a documented |                  |              |
| procedure.                         | Develop Software |              |
|                                    | Configuration    |              |
|                                    | Management Plan  |              |
+------------------------------------+------------------+--------------+
| Standard reports documenting the   | Chapter 3,       |              |
| SCM activities and the software    |                  |              |
| baseline contents are developed    | Develop Software |              |
| and distributed to affected groups | Configuration    |              |
| or individuals.                    | Management Plan  |              |
+------------------------------------+------------------+--------------+
| Software baselines are audited to  | Chapter 3,       |              |
| verify conformance to baseline     |                  |              |
| definition documents.              | Develop Software |              |
|                                    | Configuration    |              |
|                                    | Management Plan  |              |
+------------------------------------+------------------+--------------+
| Selected software work products    | Chapter 3,       |              |
| are identified, controlled, and    |                  |              |
| available.                         | Develop Software |              |
|                                    | Configuration    |              |
|                                    | Management Plan  |              |
+------------------------------------+------------------+--------------+
| Software work product changes are  | Chapter 3,       |              |
| controlled.                        |                  |              |
|                                    | Develop Software |              |
|                                    | Configuration    |              |
|                                    | Management Plan  |              |
+------------------------------------+------------------+--------------+
| Measurements are developed to      | Chapter 3,       |              |
| determine the status of SCM        |                  |              |
| activities.                        | Develop Software |              |
|                                    | Configuration    |              |
|                                    | Management Plan  |              |
+------------------------------------+------------------+--------------+
| SCM activities are reviewed with   |                  |              |
| senior management periodically.    |                  |              |
+------------------------------------+------------------+--------------+
| SCM activities are reviewed with   | Chapter 3,       |              |
| the project manager/leader both    |                  |              |
| periodically and as needed.        | Develop Software |              |
|                                    | Configuration    |              |
|                                    | Management Plan  |              |
+------------------------------------+------------------+--------------+
| Software Quality                   | Chapter 3,       |              |
| Assurance/Improvement periodically |                  |              |
| reviews and/or audits SCM          | Develop Software |              |
| activities and work products and   | Configuration    |              |
| reports the results.               | Management Plan  |              |
|                                    |                  |              |
|                                    | In-Stage         |              |
|                                    | Assessment       |              |
|                                    | process (guide)  |              |
|                                    |                  |              |
|                                    | Stage Exit       |              |
|                                    | Process (guide)  |              |
+------------------------------------+------------------+--------------+

***REFERENCES***

The following resources can be referenced for additional information on
Software Configuration Management (SCM) practices and procedures. Note:
This check list is in compliance with Software Engineering Institute SCM
guidance and most standards.

**Systems Engineering Methodology**

**Software Engineering Institute=s Software Capability Maturity Model
(SEI CMM)**

Software Configuration Management is a Key Process Area in Level 2 of
the Model.

**Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)**

The IEEE Guide to Software Configuration Management.

**Military Standard - 973 Configuration Management**

**Organization for Standardization (ISO)**

ISO 9001.