ICASAS402A
Implement configuration management strategies

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to implement administrative and technical procedures throughout the software development and documentation life cycle.

Application

This unit applies to senior information and communications technology (ICT) staff in a range of areas who are required to ensure that appropriate administrative standards support development environments.


Prerequisites

Not applicable.


Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Identify and clarify configuration management requirements

1.1 Develop and assemble identification standards for the naming and version control of software and documentation, and provide to stakeholders

1.2 Identify the software configuration tools and procedures for the required level of integration into the programming environment

1.3 Identify responsibilities for configuration management within the project and for ongoing support, including approval of changes

1.4 Take action to ensure that stakeholders are aware of their roles

1.5 Identify the point at which items are subjected to configuration control with stakeholders

2. Employ appropriate control mechanisms

2.1 Identify and document the method for identification and recording of change requests in line with organisational requirements and ensure this is maintained during development process

2.2 Take action to ensure that the evaluation criteria and process for approval of change requests are employed according to organisational requirements

2.3 Take action to ensure that other management, security and access control criteria are employed according to organisational requirements

2.4 Implement controls to ensure that necessary audit trials and alerts for variations or non-conformance are continuously maintained during development

3. Implement monitoring mechanisms

3.1 Implement controls to ensure that mechanisms to identify the status of software throughout the software development life cycle are continuously maintained

3.2 Document the development and maintenance of records and status reports required to show the history of baselines and their links to backups

3.3 Take action to ensure that the level of detail required in the status reports, and identification of target audiences, meets the configuration management procedures, International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and Australian Standards (AS) and organisational requirements

3.4 Integrate configuration management into general project management processes for monitoring and control purposes and document

4. Manage release of product

4.1 Take action to ensure the physical and functional completeness of items for the purpose of release to all stakeholders

4.2 Identify and implement the requirements for formal control of software products

4.3 Determine and document policies for retention of baseline or master copies, taking into account safety and security, legislative requirements and organisational guidelines

Required Skills

Required skills

communication skills to:

gain consensus on concepts

liaise with stakeholders

transfer and collect information

literacy skills to develop technical and business reports

numeracy skills to manage a budget

planning and organisational skills to estimate use across a range of predictable project contexts related to either varied or highly specific functions

problem-solving skills to:

identify configuration control with developers and team members

scope and prepare time lines, budget and risk manage process

research skills to analyse and evaluate:

broad features of a particular business domain

best practice in software development methodologies

technical skills to use a range of software configuration tools and software applications.

Required knowledge

project-planning methodologies and tools

benchmarking methodologies when implementing monitoring mechanisms

how to formulate software size models and size estimates when employing control mechanisms

quality assurance and quality processes when implementing monitoring mechanisms

software development methodologies when identifying and clarifying configuration management requirements.

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the ability to:

use quality processes, audit trails and version control to implement administrative and technical procedures throughout the software development and documentation life cycle

implement and maintain reliable and valid configuration management procedures for technical and administrative procedures for use during the software life cycle.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure access to:

configuration tools

evaluation criteria

process for approval of change requests

templates for status reports

appropriate learning and assessment support when required

modified equipment for people with special needs.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

verbal or written questioning to assess candidate’s knowledge of:

software development

benchmarking methodologies

audit requirements

parallel development

review of candidate’s documentation, with particular reference to:

code identification in line with organisational requirements

change control

backup management

version control

release mechanisms

direct observation of candidate briefing stakeholders.

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, where appropriate.

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and suitable to the communication skill level, language, literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.

Indigenous people and other people from a non-English speaking background may need additional support.

In cases where practical assessment is used it should be combined with targeted questioning to assess required knowledge.


Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Software may include:

commercial applications

in-house or customised

organisation-specific

packaged.

Documentation may follow:

audit trails

ISO, IEC and AS standards

naming standards

project management templates

report writing principles

version control.

Stakeholders may include:

development team

management

project team

sponsor

testers

user.

Software configuration tools may include:

Baseline +Plus

ClearCase

Continuus/CM

CVS

PVCS Configuration Builder

PVCS Version Manager

PVCS Version Manager PLUS

RCS

SCCS

Source Integrity

TeamWare

Version +Plus

Version Stamper.

Organisational requirements may include:

how and what the organisation wants in regard to work environment

preventative maintenance and diagnostic policy, roles and technical responsibilities in the IT department

problem-solution processes

vendor and product service level support agreements.

Requirements may relate to:

business

network

people in the organisation

system.

Organisational guidelines may include:

communication methods

content of emails

dispute resolution

document procedures and templates

downloading information and accessing particular websites

financial control mechanisms

opening mail with attachments

personal use of emails and internet access

virus risk.


Sectors

Systems administration and support


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement but users should confirm requirements with the relevant federal, state or territory authority.