changecontrol

Change control is a formal process used to manage changes to a product, project baseline, or system. It ensures that proposed modifications are evaluated, approved, implemented, and documented in a controlled manner to minimize risk and disruption.

The process aims to preserve baselines, maintain accountability, enable traceability, and ensure compliance with standards and regulations. It requires formal documentation, impact assessment on scope, schedule, cost, quality, and stakeholder objectives, and clear ownership for each change.

Core artifacts include the change request, impact analysis, change log, and configuration item records. Roles typically include a Change Control Board or Change Advisory Board, a Change Manager, and timeline owners. Changes are tracked within a configuration management system to maintain history and versions.

The typical lifecycle begins with a formal change request. An impact analysis assesses risks, benefits, resources, and timelines. The change is reviewed and approved or rejected by the appropriate authority, followed by planning, scheduling, and implementation. After deployment, verification or testing confirms expected results, and the change is closed with documentation and any lessons learned.

Changes are categorized as standard (pre-authorized), normal (requires assessment), or emergency (fast-tracked). In regulated environments, traceability, auditable records, and post-implementation reviews are emphasized to meet compliance requirements.

Benefits include controlled scope, reduced disruption, improved stakeholder communication, and auditable history. Challenges include potential delays, bureaucratic overhead, and the need for ongoing maintenance of change records. Integration with configuration management and version control enhances consistency across projects and systems.