Best Practices in Change, Configuration and Release Management

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ID Number: G00150077

This research is provided for historical perspective;
portions of this document may not reflect current conditions.

9 August 2007

Ronni J. Colville Kris Brittain

The need to formalize change, configuration and release management processes is the cornerstone of a strong IT operation. Different elements drive each of these processes, resulting in varied vendor reliance. Our best practices can help you achieve service and business value.

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Pages: 16

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Table of Contents

Analysis

1.0

What You Need to Know

2.0

Introduction: Maintaining the Harmony Among Change, Configuration and Release Management

3.0

Drivers

3.1		Driver No. 1: The Compliance Tornado
3.2		Driver No. 2: Quality of Service for 24/7 Availability
3.3		Driver No. 3: Production Efficiency
3.4		Driver No. 4: Rush to Adopt Process Methodologies

4.0

Challenges

4.1		The Fragmented Tools Market
4.2		Configuration Management: Technical Domains
4.3		Configuration Management: Incomplete CMDB Offerings
4.4		Change Management Tools
4.5		Release Management Tools: Still On the Wish List

5.0

Best Practices

5.1		Which Process Is Implemented First?
5.2		Develop Coordinated Process and Policy Content
5.3		Adopt an Organization Structure That Enables Collaboration
5.4		Standardize for Configuration Control
5.5		Define, Document and Report KPIs

List of Figures

	Figure 1.	Driver No. 1: The Compliance Tornado

	Figure 2.	Driver No. 2: Quality of Service for 24/7 Availability

	Figure 3.	Driver No. 3: Production Efficiency

	Figure 4.	Driver No. 4: Rush to Adopt Process Methodologies

	Figure 5.	Integrated Processes Meet the Fragmented Tools Market

	Figure 6.	Configuration: It's All About Discovery

	Figure 7.	Configuration Management: CMDB — It's not 'Automagic'

	Figure 8.	ITCM Tools Are More Than List Trackers

	Figure 9.	Release Management: Too Early for Tools

	Figure 10.	Which Comes First — People, Processes or Technology?

	Figure 11.	Policy Table of Contents

	Figure 12.	New Organizational Structure and Roles

	Figure 13.	Standardize for Configuration Control

	Figure 14.	Define, Document and Report KPIs

IT Organizational Structure
IT Performance Management
IT Change Management
Configuration Management

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Resource Id: 511800