The definition cited by the Guide describes configuration management as a discipline that identifies and records the functional and physical characteristics of a configuration item, controls changes to those characteristics, records and reports the status of change processing and implementation, and verifies compliance with specified requirements. Software configuration management supports project management, development and maintenance activities, and quality assurance.[1]
The Guide's top-level topics for this knowledge area are:
- Management of the SCM Process
- Software Configuration Identification
- Software Configuration Change Control
- Software Configuration Status Accounting
- Software Configuration Auditing
- Software Release Management and Delivery
- Software Configuration Management Tools
Configuration-management standards named in the Guide's appendix include IEEE Std 828-2012.[1]