Skip to content
Different roles of a configuration manager

The Real Job Description of a Configuration Manager: From Office Linebacker to Therapist!

Have you ever read a Configuration Manager job description and thought, “That sounds so calm and structured. What must it be like to work in a place like that?”

If you’re smiling already, you know.

In this article, part of the How Do YOU CM2? series with the IpX – Institute for Process Excellence, I will explore what a real-world Configuration Manager’s job actually involves, including all the roles we play.

How Do YOU CM2?

How Do YOU CM2? – Part 5

In case you missed them, you can find the following How do YOU CM2? posts in the 50th edition🥳 of the Future of CM newsletter:

🧑‍🚒 When ‘Saving the Day’ Becomes the Problem.
🐺 Why does Configuration Management have such a bad reputation?
😵‍💫 Are you planning on hallucinating your next product?

Are you planning on hallucinating your next product?

What is the quality level of the product data in your organization?
🤥100%? — You’re lying to yourself.
✅99%? — Hard to believe.
🆗95%? — Impressive, but not enough.
❌Less than 95%? — That’s the reality for most organizations.

Silos don’t just isolate data -they isolate people -decisions and innovation

Silos don’t just isolate data; they isolate people, decisions, and innovation!

The post recounts a presentation from the LightX conference, illustrating the importance of Configuration Management (CM) through a personal story involving a school assignment. It highlights how CM, specifically CM2, can prevent miscommunication and inefficiencies in organizations by aligning products, processes, and people, ultimately improving trust and workflow.

How Do YOU CM2?

How Do YOU CM2? – Part 4

This article is part of the How Do YOU CM2? blog series in collaboration with the Institute for Process Excellence (IpX). Although I receive compensation for writing this series, I stand behind its content. I will continue to create and publish high-quality articles that I can fully endorse. Enjoy this new series, and please share your thoughts!  In case you missed them, you can find the following How do YOU CM2? posts in the… Read More »How Do YOU CM2? – Part 4

As-Maintained or As-Nightmare

As-Maintained or As-Nightmare?

This article emphasizes the importance of addressing serviceability during new product development, often overlooked for immediate innovation. Ignoring the as-maintained configuration can lead to increased downtime, higher maintenance costs, and eroded customer trust. Prioritizing serviceability fosters long-term success, customer loyalty, and efficient operations, transforming potential crises into manageable processes.

Who Owns Configuration Management

Who Owns Configuration Management?

The article discusses the importance of Configuration Management (CM) in organizations and challenges the notion that it belongs solely to engineering, quality, or manufacturing departments. It emphasizes that CM must be integrated across all processes to ensure consistency and traceability, ultimately enhancing efficiency, product reliability, and customer satisfaction.

Why ‘Released’ Doesn’t Mean ‘Ready’ in Product Development

Why ‘Released’ Doesn’t Mean ‘Ready’ in Product Development

This article discusses design maturity in datasets for New Product Introductions, emphasizing its role as a measure of usability rather than workflow status. Different maturity stages (Prototype, Pilot, Production) inform downstream actions. Organizations must manage risks associated with bypassing maturity stages, especially in regulated environments. Treating design maturity as a risk management tool is crucial.