22.1 How to Get Started from Nothing

Getting started on anything completely from scratch isn't easy but, on the other hand, it's hardly ever necessary. Even if a company has the feeling that no configuration management is being performed, that's rarely the case. Employees may have knowledge and practical experience of configuration management from previous jobs or from their education. It's also worth remembering that a company wanting to start some configuration management is not an island. The world at large can provide a lot of help and inspiration.

Getting the Right People

People drive changes and improvements. The success or failure of an enterprise like introducing configuration management in a company may depend on the people allocated to it. The person driving the initiative must be a fiery soul or "true believer." Without a burning desire to see configuration management at work in the company, the person in charge is prone to give up long before achieving success.

Such a person may well be found within the company. The original initiative may, in fact, come from a person with this passion. Build on that, especially if the person is someone with a good relationship to peers and superiors.

Collecting Best Practices Internally

All companies have dedicated, enthusiastic people who want to do as good a job as possible. When introducing configuration management for the first time, try to create a map of the knowledge on the subject within the company. Authorized assessments following one or the other maturity model are one way to do this, but lighter self-assessment methods may also be used. This could include interviews with employees working on ongoing projects or various types of questionnaires, such as on the company intranet.

It's well worth the effort to analyze information gained like this and collect existing information about practices and knowledge. Starting configuration management based on existing practices will significantly enhance its chances of success.

Looking at the Outside World

The maturity models offer a lot of inspiration. It may not always be easy to understand how to implement the requirements, but an assessment, including a detailed improvement plan, can be a stepping stone. Literature and conference attendance are also valuable sources of inspiration. A local interest group on configuration management can provide opportunities to participate in meetings and workshops. Training courses are also a source of information and inspiration.

Validate outside information and inspiration carefully against existing knowledge and practices. Do not overrule internal resources without a strong case for doing so.

Focus

To get configuration management off the ground, place as much focus on employees' understanding and capability for configuration management as on the company's need for control. This should not create a conflict with the company's interests, as the company ultimately depends on the employees' ability to carry out configuration management plans.

Look Ahead

When introducing configuration management, use a stepwise approach. Start with a few steps, then introduce more and more advanced aspects. This includes picking low-hanging fruit. Set up goals that are obtainable within a short timesay, two to three months at the mostand celebrate when the goals are reached. Even a stepwise approach should include at least some idea of where the long- term goal is. This will facilitate decisions being made along the waysuch as selecting tools, which can grow as demands placed on them increase.



Configuration Management Principles and Practice
Configuration Management Principles and Practice
ISBN: 0321117662
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2002
Pages: 181

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