Software Configuration Management

Software configuration management is essential for projects of all sizes. The need for one increases as the size of the project increases (i.e. exponentially correlated). In large projects configuration management takes care of the confusions caused by simultaneous updates, problems due caused due to not notifying all the developers and multiple versions created by evolutionary releases.
Software configuration management is no doubt one of the valuable software engineering processes. It is a combination of using the right tools and making the people use the right way. It is more than providing an insurance for backups. It is not just for backup and having the ability to get a previous version. In team environment, it provides control for baselining, promotion of builds, views, parallel development, provides automation and consistency to the build process, subcontractor control and provides a means for auditing. Using good standard procedures allows automation, simplifies and ensures the integrity. For example the artifacts produced could be posted to the portals from the version control system automatically at the end of the project. Similarly an automated build and installation process like the model mentioned at Microsoft could be achieved.
For organizations trying to get CMM level certifications and implement the ri the methodologies the first step is to look at the SCM plan and ensure that these are standardized.