CSM CSM Software Configuration & Change Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of a Configuration Management Database (CMDB) in software management?
- To store source code versions
- To track and manage all configuration items and their relationships (Correct answer)
- To monitor network performance
- To schedule software deployments
Correct answer: To track and manage all configuration items and their relationships
A CMDB serves as a centralized repository that tracks all configuration items (CIs) and their interdependencies to support IT service management.
Question 2: Which IEEE standard is most closely associated with software configuration management practices?
- IEEE 828 (Correct answer)
- IEEE 1012
- IEEE 730
- IEEE 1028
Correct answer: IEEE 828
IEEE 828 defines the requirements for Software Configuration Management Plans, covering identification, control, status accounting, and auditing.
Question 3: In change management, what does a Change Advisory Board (CAB) primarily do?
- Writes change request forms
- Reviews and approves or rejects proposed changes (Correct answer)
- Implements approved changes in production
- Monitors post-change system performance
Correct answer: Reviews and approves or rejects proposed changes
The CAB reviews proposed changes, assesses their risk and impact, and makes authorization decisions before changes are implemented.
Question 4: What is a baseline in the context of software configuration management?
- The minimum system performance threshold
- A formally reviewed and agreed-upon specification or product used as a reference point (Correct answer)
- The initial project budget estimate
- The lowest acceptable code quality metric
Correct answer: A formally reviewed and agreed-upon specification or product used as a reference point
A baseline is a formally approved version of a configuration item that serves as a reference for future development and can only be changed through formal change control procedures.
Question 5: Which of the following BEST describes a version control branching strategy that uses short-lived feature branches merged frequently into the main branch?
- GitFlow
- Trunk-based development (Correct answer)
- Release branching
- Hotfix branching
Correct answer: Trunk-based development
Trunk-based development uses short-lived branches that are frequently integrated into the main (trunk) branch to reduce merge conflicts and support continuous integration.
Question 6: What is the key difference between a 'normal change' and an 'emergency change' in IT change management?
- Normal changes require testing; emergency changes do not
- Emergency changes bypass standard approval processes due to urgency (Correct answer)
- Normal changes are free; emergency changes incur additional costs
- Emergency changes require more documentation than normal changes
Correct answer: Emergency changes bypass standard approval processes due to urgency
Emergency changes are expedited through a streamlined or abbreviated approval process to address critical issues quickly, though they are still documented and reviewed post-implementation.
CSM CSM Software Configuration & Change Management 1
What is the primary purpose of a Configuration Management Database (CMDB) in software management?