Software Change Management

- The Incomplete Reference

 

BOOK 1 The importance of being earnest prev next

Chapter 1.1 Everybody does it

section 1.1.1 The large development shop (PreMillenial)
section 1.1.2 Smaller organisations (PreMillenial)
section 1.1.3 My friends and I (PreMillenial)

Chapter 1.2 How it grows

section 1.2.1 As do we (Apr2000)
section 1.2.2 Increasing reliance on and importance of IT (Apr2000)
section 1.2.3 Bumps in the night (Feb2001)
section 1.2.4 The more things change... (Feb2001)

Chapter 1.3 Can we afford this

section 1.3.1 The measure of things (Sep2001)
section 1.3.2 Cost escalation (Sep2001)
section 1.3.3 Right-sizing (Sep2001)

Chapter 1.4 Choosing a vendor

section 1.4.1 Buying against building (Sep2001)
section 1.4.2 Pre-packaged against Customisable (Sep2001)
section 1.4.3 Big vendors against Small (Sep2001)
section 1.4.4 Local vendors against International (Sep2001)

Chapter 1.5 Summary of models

section 1.5.1 Application: One tool for all against Specialisation (Sep2001) (current effort)
section 1.5.2 Control: Safe and secure against The freedom to act
section 1.5.3 Location: Centralised against Distributed
section 1.5.4 Extent: Omnipotence against Minimalism
section 1.5.5 Division: Separate environments against Modes of access

Chapter 1.6 Summary of features

section 1.6.1 Degrees of authority, ownership, and access
section 1.6.2 Compilers, generators, and versioning
section 1.6.3 Completion and requirements validation
section 1.6.4 Syntax and Standards validation
section 1.6.5 Archives and backups
section 1.6.6 Audit and reporting
section 1.6.7 Activity and requirements documentation
section 1.6.8 Migration and packaging
section 1.6.9 Co-ordination and scheduling
section 1.6.10 Reversing changes
section 1.6.11 Migrating deletes and cleanups
section 1.6.12 Effective dated changes
section 1.6.13 Exceptions and exits
section 1.6.14 Merging parallel development streams
section 1.6.15 Externally supplied releases

 


BOOK 2 The change process prev next

Chapter 2.1 Roles and responsibilities

section 2.1.1 Client and pay master
section 2.1.2 Project management and focus
section 2.1.3 User requirements analysis
section 2.1.4 Cost control and resource provision
section 2.1.5 Development and unit testing
section 2.1.6 Systems testing
section 2.1.7 Security, audit, and standards checking
section 2.1.8 Integration and acceptance testing
section 2.1.9 System and user documentation
section 2.1.10 Installation co-ordination
section 2.1.11 Production support
section 2.1.12 Process and environment support

Chapter 2.2 Clients and suppliers

section 2.2.1 Co-operation
section 2.2.2 Feature creep
section 2.2.3 Customer satisfaction and expert advice
section 2.2.4 Third party involvement

Chapter 2.3 Project management

section 2.3.1 Prioritising work
section 2.3.2 Obtaining resources
section 2.3.3 Assuring focus
section 2.3.4 Retaining staff commitment
section 2.3.5 Budgeting and fiscal responsibility
section 2.3.6 Executive reporting

Chapter 2.4 Development

section 2.4.1 Resolving work load
section 2.4.2 Assigning work
section 2.4.3 Securing access and making changes
section 2.4.4 Compilation and unit testing
section 2.4.5 Documenting activity
section 2.4.6 Handover and packaging

Chapter 2.5 Testing, testing, testing

section 2.5.1 Preparing a test environment
section 2.5.2 Assuring normal and expected operation
section 2.5.3 Stress testing and performance assessment
section 2.5.4 Operational acceptance and external impacts
section 2.5.5 Security, audit, and standards acceptance

Chapter 2.6 Documentation

section 2.6.1 User requirements
section 2.6.2 Service level agreements
section 2.6.3 Problem and enhancement analysis
section 2.6.4 Development activity logging
section 2.6.5 System documentation
section 2.6.6 Operational documentation
section 2.6.7 Anticipating problems
section 2.6.8 Installation schedule
section 2.6.9 Post installation review

Chapter 2.7 Installation co-ordination

section 2.7.1 Multiple applications and changes
section 2.7.2 Assuring reversibility
section 2.7.3 Authorisation and Authentication
section 2.7.4 Minimising impact and maximising throughput
section 2.7.5 Crossing sites and platforms

Chapter 2.8 Production support

section 2.8.1 Permanent and interim changes
section 2.8.2 Emergency changes
section 2.8.3 Recording problems and fixes
section 2.8.4 Requesting permanent/official resolution

Chapter 2.9 Change management support

section 2.9.1 User focus
section 2.9.2 Help desk
section 2.9.3 Establishing standards
section 2.9.4 Enhancement utilities
section 2.9.5 Building new environments

 


BOOK 3 Technical reference prev next

Chapter 3.1 Processing environments and business structures

section 3.1.1 Here and there
section 3.1.2 Adding test environments
section 3.1.3 Holding and transfer requirements

Chapter 3.2 Migration Paths

section 3.2.1 Distinguishing development, support, and emergency paths
section 3.2.2 Distinguishing high value and high frequency changes
section 3.2.3 Distinguishing types of content and their process requirements
section 3.2.4 Crossing physical and organisational boundaries

Chapter 3.3 Release packaging

section 3.3.1 Grouping by change dependency and ownership
section 3.3.2 Grouping by external impact and availability
section 3.3.3 Grouping by deadlines and opportunity
section 3.3.4 Multiple levels of grouping

Chapter 3.4 Security and integrity

section 3.4.1 Work assignment
section 3.4.2 Sensitive content and projects
section 3.4.3 Parallel changes

Chapter 3.5 Content types

section 3.5.1 Known content types
section 3.5.2 Individual processing requirements
section 3.5.3 Interdependencies
section 3.5.4 Providing for future types

Chapter 3.6 Audit and reporting

section 3.6.1 Hunting and tracking
section 3.6.2 Blame assignment
section 3.6.3 Process improvement
section 3.6.4 Automating documentation
section 3.6.5 Automation and foot-printing

Chapter 3.7 Client server

section 3.7.1 PCs over terminals
section 3.7.2 Taking work home
section 3.7.3 Overheads and invisibility

Chapter 3.8 People in the process

section 3.8.1 Bigger wheels and smaller cogs
section 3.8.2 Distributing effort and responsibility
section 3.8.3 Process simplicity via automation complexity

 


BOOK 4 Advanced facilities prev next

Chapter 4.1 Delete migration

Chapter 4.2 Effective dated changes

Chapter 4.3 Parallel development

Chapter 4.4 Crossing sites and platforms

Chapter 4.5 Distributed control

Chapter 4.6 Disaster provision and recovery

Chapter 4.7 Divided and diffuse responsibilities

 


BOOK 5 Textbook relationships prev next

Chapter 5.1 Example systems

Chapter 5.2 Glossary of terms

Chapter 5.3 Self assessment answers

Chapter 5.4 Bibliography

Chapter 5.5 Global index

 


 

 Working Title:  Software Change Management - The Incomplete Reference
 Synopsis:  To express the value of formal change principles,
 To explore various philosophies, strategies, and techniques,
 To contextualise for various organisation types,
 To detail opportunities and desireable facilities, and
 To acknowledge structural and practical constraints.
 Author:  Copyright (c) 2000-2001 by Philip Trinham
 Commenced:  21 November, 1997
 Outline Completion:  Never
 Revision:  20 December, 2000 - Convert to HTML
 Summary:  OUTLINE This text @outline.htm
 BOOK The importance of being earnest Aearnest.htm
 BOOK The change process Bchgproc.htm
 BOOK Technical reference Ctechref.htm
 BOOK Advanced facilities
 BOOK Textbook relationships