Configuration Audits and Checklist
Configuration audits provide a mechanism for determining the degree to which the current state of the system is consistent with the latest baseline and documentation. They provide greater visibility into the status of a project by evaluating the status of the items. They also determine the traceability from requirements and CRs to the implementation by investigating the baselines and changes to the baselines.
SCM activities are constantly carried out during the development or major enhancement cycle of a product. Configuration items are identified, baselines are established and changes to baselined items are carried out in a formal way. The status accounting provides the information of the SCM activities that have been carried out. When the product the ready for release / delivery, it is necessary to establish that the software product has been build in accordance with the requirements including the approved CRs. In other words, we perform a formal review to verify that the product being delivered will work as advertised, promoted or in any way promised to the customers.
Configuration audits provide such a review. They are not the same as quality audits or product tests. However, they use the information available as an outcome of the quality audits and testing along with the configuration status accounting information, to provide assurance that what was required has been build. Configuration audits are typically performed at the time of delivery and major upgrades to the software.