Configuration Management Principles and Practice

The introduction is one of the areas where a documentation standard exists in most companies. This chapter may be divided into the following sections:

1. Purpose

2. Scope

3. Vocabulary

4. References

Purpose

A short explanation of the purpose should be given, along with an indication of the audience for the plan.

Scope

Indicate the scope of the plan with regard to

• Project activities the plan covers and to what degree of detail

• Project activities the plan does not cover, and why

• The organizational unit for which the plan is valid

• Types of objects for which the plan is valid

• Types of objects the plan does not cover, and why

• Configuration management activities the plan covers

• Configuration management activities the plan does not cover, and why

Vocabulary and Reference Lists

The introduction may also contain a vocabulary related to configuration management and one or more reference list(s). (If lengthy, they can go in an appendix, with a reference in the introduction.) Other lists, such as typographical conventions, may be included as appropriate, and some may find a list of previous versions of the plan useful.