Software Configuration Management

This practical two-day workshop gives a comprehensive introduction to Software Configuration Management (SCM), allowing participants to control changes to the software elements and maintaining their integrity and traceability throughout the system lifecycle. Practical exercises allow the principles to be applied to your organisation.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this workshop you will be able to:

• Apply the principles of effective SCM to your project/organisation in a practical manner
• Scale the SCM process to suit your project/organisational requirements
• Develop a SCM plan
• Apply a common sense approach to the selection and implementation of SCM tools
• Assess your SCM process in relation to industry standards/models
• Operate a continuously improving SCM process

Level and Orientation of Audience:

Anyone responsible for or affected by SCM activities e.g. Software Project Managers, Developers, Testers, Software Configuration Managers and practitioners.

Topics Covered

Introduction

• What is Software Configuration Management?

Why do we need it?

• Value, complexity, change, risk
• Problems due to poor Configuration Management
• Configuration Management roles - Project Manager, Developer, Tester, Software Configuration Manager

The four SCM disciplines - an overview

• Configuration Identification
• Configuration Control
• Configuration Auditing
• Status accounting

Configuration identification

• Requirements of a SCM system
• Lifecycle-based configuration item identification
• Baseline identification
• Naming and numbering conventions
• Ownership and interfaces

Managing change - configuration control

• Change request and problem report management
• Change evaluation (impact analysis)
• Change approval
• Implementation of change

Version, build and Release Management

• Release lifecycle and controls

Industry Standards/Models and SCM

• SEI Capability Maturity Model
  • Software Configuration Management - Goals, Activities, etc.
  • CMM concepts: -
  • Baseline Configuration Management versus 'Managed and Controlled'
  • Software Change Control Board (SCCB) - roles, responsibilities
  • Control levels in SCM
• ISO 9001

SCM planning

• The IEEE standard for a SCM plan
• Case study in SCM planning

How is Software Configuration Management implemented in practice?

• Practicalities and essentials
• Implementation issues
• People and cultural issues
• Establishing a SCM team
• Gathering and maintaining data
• Typical problems implementing SCM and how to avoid them
• Sample process definition

SCM tools

• What to automate?
• Tool features
• Sample tool listings
• Tool groupings
• Tool selection/ implementation steps and checklist

Conclusions and Implementation Planning

Exercises are used throughout the course and are tailored to meet any specific company requirements (e.g. using an in-house project as a case study)