Description

Configuration management (CM) is a technical and administrative process used throughout project development. Its purpose is to ensure that the end result (product functions, performance etc. ) are consistent with the requirements, design and operational information. Thus, the CM process is one of control, documentation, and tracking. The CM activities performed over the lifecycle of the system include:

• Identifying and documenting characteristics
• Controlling and documenting configuration changes
• Recording and reporting the status of proposed changes
• Identify and discuss ITS-supported countermeasures that can be employed to address highway safety priority areas identified in the participants’ jurisdictions.
• Auditing configuration items to verify conformance

This course will survey the configuration management process from beginning to end – from planning through retrofitting.

Objectives

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:

• Discuss the benefits of configuration management and how it supports the management and operation of traffic management systems
• Identify the role and potential CM applications related to traffic management systems
• Discuss the key CM issues to consider for agency and regional applications
• Describe the CM process and the five key CM activities
• Planning
• Configuration Identification
• Status Accounting
• Audits
• Change Control
• Identify the types of available CM tools and their potential applications

Audience

Transportation engineers and other practicing ITS professionals or technical persons at all levels of government and the private sector. ITS project managers, technical team members, contractors, and staff are all appropriate participants. Project managers would particularly benefit from this course since they direct the efforts of many people. Any level of professional involved in ITS may attend to broaden their understanding of configuration management

Length

Approximately eight hours.  

Prerequistes

Some familiarity with the management and operation of surface transportation services and facilities. Some basic knowledge of systems engineering processes.  

Course Outline

Module A – Introduction to Configuration

• Introduction
• Course Outcomes
• Course Overview
• Configuration Management Resources

Lesson 1 - Overview of the CM Process

• Introduction
• Learning Outcomes
• What Is Configuration Management (CM)?
• Formal Definition of Configuration Management
• Project/System Integrity
• Benefits of Configuration Management
• Knowledge Check:  CM Benefits
• Primary Purposes and Goals of Configuration Management
• Why Configuration Management Is Critical
• Knowledge Check: Goals of Configuration Management
• System Products
• End Products
• Enabling Products
• A System as a Hierarchy
• Configuration Management Items Defined
• Configuration Management Activities
• Configuration Management Elements
• Knowledge Check:  Configuration Management Process
• Who Are Stakeholders?
• Benefits of Configuration Management To Stakeholders
• Stakeholders and Configuration Management
• Configuration Management Applications
• Applying Configuration Management
• Important Roles in CM During Development
• Role of the Configuration Manager
• Learning Outcomes Review

Module B – Planning for Configuration Management

Lesson 2 - Configuration Management Within the Systems Engineering Process

• Introduction
• Learning Outcomes
• System Lifecycle
• The VEE Model of Systems Engineering
• The Purpose of Systems Engineering
• CM Activities During Each Lifecycle Phase
• Knowledge Check: CM and the Vee Model
• Change Management
• Baselines
• Types of Baselines
• Knowledge Check: Baseline
• Traceability
• Requirements Traceability
• Quality Assurance
• Lesson Summary

Lesson 3 - Developing the Configuration Management Plan

• Introduction
• Learning Outcomes
• Planning for Configuration Management
• The Configuration Management Plan
• Who Develops the Configuration Management Plan?
• Contents of the Configuration Management Plan
• Knowledge Check:  The Configuration Management Plan
• Creating a Configuration Management Plan
• Developing a Template
• Configuration Management Plan Template
• Sample Agency CM Plan Outline
• Sample Developer/COTS CM Plan Outline
• Benefits of the Configuration Management Plan
• Knowledge Check: Benefits of the CM Plan
• Lesson Summary

Module C – Identifying the Configuration

Lesson 4 - Identifying Configuration Items

• Introduction
• Learning Outcomes
• Configuration Identification
• Configuration Management Handbook
• What Is a Configuration Item (CI)?
• Characteristics of Configuration Items
• Knowledge Check: Configuration Items
• Naming Configuration items
• Configuration Item Model
• Typical Configuration Identification Activities
• Configuration Identification: Software
•  Configuration Identification: Hardware
• The Configuration Management Database
• Configuration Identification Example: Transportation Systems
• Knowledge Check: The CM Database
• Lesson Summary
• Quiz

Lesson 5 - Baselining

• Introduction
• Learning Outcomes
• Configuration Management Baselines
• Purpose of Baselines
• When Are Baselines Established?
• When Does the Baseline Change?
• Knowledge Check:  Baseline Purpose
• Signal System Baseline Example
• Baseline Types
• Functional Baseline
• Allocated Baseline
• Developmental Baselines
• Product and Operational Baselines
• What Is Included in the Product Baseline?
• Knowledge Check:  Baseline Types
• Lesson Summary

Module D – Configuration Control

Lesson 6 - Change Management

• Introduction
• Learning Outcomes
• The Impact of Changes
• Critical Management Principle
• Purpose and Benefits of Change Management
• Engineering Change Proposal (ECP)
• Typical Content of an ECP
• Classifying Changes
• Knowledge Check:  Major Changes
• Example of Change Classification Levels
• Description of Change Management
• The Change Management Process
• Interface Changes
• Generic Change Management Process Model
• Role of the Configuration Control Board (CCB) in Change Management
• Configuration Control Board Presentation
• Composition of the CCB
• Basis for CCB Decisions
• CCB Controls Scope Creep
• Knowledge Check:  Scope Creep
• Your Experiences with Scope Creep
• Variance
• Change Implementation and Verification
• Knowledge Check: Change Implementation
• Lesson Summary

Lesson 7 - CM Status Accounting and Audits

• Introduction
• Learning Outcomes
• Status Accounting in Configuration Management
• What Is Configuration Status Accounting?
• Configuration Status Activities
• Configuration Status Accounting: Status Information
• Knowledge Check: Status Accounting
• Configuration Audits
• What Is a Configuration Audit?
• What Is Verification?
• Applying Verification
• Types of Audits
• Knowledge Check:  Implementation
• Purpose and Benefits of Verification and Audits
• Verification and Audit Activity Flow
• Product Release Activity Flow
• Lesson Summary

Module E –Retrofitting Configuration Management

Lesson 8 - Establishing and Maintaining CM in Existing Systems

• Introduction
• Learning Outcomes
• What Is an Existing System?
• Benefits of Continuing CM for Systems Developing with CM Process
• Maintaining a Stable System During Operations and Maintenance
• Why Implement CM for an Existing System?
• Knowledge Check: CM Benefits
• Agency Responsibilities
• Challenges of Implementing System CM
• What Challenges Have You Experienced?
• System Integrity: A CM-based Definition
• System Integrity in Existing Systems
• Building CM into Existing Systems
• Knowledge Check: Challenges
• Traceability in Existing Systems
• CM Activities After Assessment
• Cost Control
• Establishing Integrity for Long-term System Management
• Risk Management in Existing Systems
• Your Experience with System Documentation
• Scope of CM Activities for Existing Systems
• Program and System Personnel
• Lesson Summary

Course Summary

Course Syllabus

>See Course Syllabus