Configuration Management is… Status Accounting!
Have you ever tried to manage a project without knowing where things stand? It’s like driving a car with no dashboard—no speedometer, no fuel gauge, no idea if you’re speeding or about to run out of gas.
That’s why StatusAccounting is such a critical part of ConfigurationManagement, as defined in the SAE-EIA-649 standard.
So, what is it?
Status Accounting is the process of tracking, recording, and reporting the current state of your configuration items. It gives you a clear picture of:
• Which items are in use and which are obsolete.
• What changes have been proposed, approved, or implemented.
• Whether all parts and documents are properly aligned.
Without Status Accounting:
• Teams waste time searching for the right revision of datasets.
• Decisions are made based on outdated information.
• Projects risk delays, budget overruns, or even failure.
Status Accounting turns confusion into clarity.
What’s your take? How do you track and report the status of your configuration items? Share your thoughts below! Join the discussion on LinkedIn.
Note: the CM is… series posts are not intended to limit the scope of Configuration Management, but to create awareness of the breadth of CM. Each of these elements is part of good Configuration Management Practice.