A-FIRM Structure Configuration Management
The excerpt below is from an article I wrote for the itSM Solutions DITY periodical. A link is provided below which will take you to the full article.
ITIL V3 incorporates emerging best practices for a Configuration Management System (CMS) modeled upon a federated set of Configuration Management Databases (CMDB). For most IT shops that may seem a very daunting obstacle to surmount. But, by looking beyond the task at hand, we can find guidance in several places – including architectural systems, automotive designers, and even mountain-climbing expeditions.
Whether you are constructing a high-rise building, an automobile, or planning to climb a mountain, they all require a solid foundation upon which to build, and, in all three cases, the capability of the framework determines the success you will achieve in your effort.
The framework needs to be strong, but yet flexible enough to handle the environment in which it operates. A high-rise must handle high winds without crumbling or letting its inhabitants feel the sway, and an automobile frame needs to absorb potholes while still providing a smooth ride to its passengers. The framework for a mountain climbing journey is an intangible one that leads the climber through the necessary support camps where he or she makes adjustments on the ascent to the summit.
The full article posted on the itSM Solutions website can be found here: