At the outset a cm plan is developed which will be fine-tuned as the project progresses.
The documentation of the corresponding proceedings, rules and roles forms a crucial basis for the mutual understanding and better communication within the software teams.
The cm plan is either part of the QM manual or is referred to. It can also serve as basis for the creation of a QM manual, if there is none.
The essential elements of a cm plan are
- description of the cm activities within the development process and establishment of a consistent terminology
- criteria for the selection of configuration units and their identification (artefacts, components, releases, etc.)
- determination of roles and the corresponding tasks (i.e. project manager, change manager, release engineer, developer, etc.)
- use of change control, version control, and build management tools
- conventions regarding branching and merging, activities regarding release issuing
- determinations regarding configuration audits
