Some treat configuration management as being similar to a librarian activity, and break out change control or change management as a separate or stand-alone discipline. Many of these functions and models have redefined configuration management from its traditional holistic approach to technical management. As stated in the PMBOK, components of the requirements management plan can include: вЂњConfiguration management activities such as how changes to the product, service or result requirements will be initiated, how impacts will be analyzed, how they will be traced, tracked, and reported, as well as the authorization levels required to approve these changes.вЂќ In these situations it is important to utilize configuration management to consider proposed changes, establish a process to review and approve any proposed changes, and to implement and communicate these changes to the stakeholders.

However, there are often situations which require changes to a project or its requirements. Additionally, every effort must be taken to identify requirements thoroughly during project initiation and planning. In order to effectively manage a project, communication must be managed and controlled.

The inputs for the requirements management plan include the ABC Project Charter and Stakeholder Register. These will consist of requirements to ensure that performance specifications are met, cable properties are properly documented, and manufacturing thresholds are identified and documented. Product requirements are the requirements identified to meet the technical specifications of the product being produced as a result of the project: the ABC fiber optic cable. These consist mostly of non-technical requirements.

Project requirements are the requirements identified to meet the needs of the project and ensure its completion and readiness to hand over to operations. Requirements will be divided into two categories: project requirements and product requirements. The purpose of the ABC Requirements Management Plan is to establish a common understanding of how requirements will be identified, analyzed, documented, and managed for the ABC fiber optic cable project. It is easy to unintentionally omit requirements, fail to document them, or leave requirements incomplete without a tool to properly manage them. Depending on the type of project there may be both project and product requirements. The Requirements Management Plan is a necessary tool for establishing how requirements will be collected, analyzed, documented, and managed throughout the lifecycle of a project.

Requirements management planning tools