CPSM Configuration Management & Change Control Flashcards

What is Software Configuration Management (SCM)?

Answer: A discipline for controlling the evolution of software systems by tracking and managing changes

SCM encompasses the practices of identifying, controlling, and auditing changes to software artifacts throughout the project lifecycle.

What is a Configuration Item (CI) in the context of SCM?

Answer: An aggregation of hardware or software designated for configuration management

A Configuration Item is any software artifact — code, document, or component — placed under configuration management control.

Which SCM activity involves recording the state of configuration items at a specific point in time?

Answer: Configuration status accounting

Configuration status accounting tracks and reports the current state and history of all configuration items and approved changes.

What is the main purpose of a Change Control Board (CCB)?

Answer: To review, approve, or reject proposed changes to baselined project artifacts

A CCB is a formal body that evaluates change requests and decides whether to approve, defer, or reject them to protect the project baseline.

What does 'version control' primarily help a software team accomplish?

Answer: Track changes to source code and allow retrieval of previous versions

Version control systems record every change to source code, enabling teams to retrieve past versions, compare changes, and work concurrently.

What is a software baseline in configuration management?

Answer: A formally reviewed and agreed-upon specification used as a basis for further development

A baseline is a formally approved snapshot of a configuration item that can only be changed through formal change control procedures.