When should configuration management procedures be implemented?

Configuration management (CM) procedures are fundamental to maintaining control and integrity over all test assets, including the test item, test environment, and testware. These procedures must be established early to ensure consistency and traceability throughout the entire test process. The test planning phase is dedicated to defining the overall test strategy, objectives, and the processes that will govern testing activities. Therefore, defining and implementing the procedures for configuration management is a critical activity that occurs during test planning and is documented within the test plan. This ensures that all subsequent activities, such as analysis, design, and execution, are conducted under proper version control.

B. During test analysis, established CM procedures are used to control versions of the test basis and the test conditions being created, not implemented for the first time.
C. During test execution, CM procedures must already be in place and strictly followed to ensure the correct versions of code, test scripts, and environment are used.
D. When evaluating exit criteria, CM provides essential data (e.g., which version was tested), but the procedures themselves must have been implemented long before this final step.

1. ISTQB® Certified Tester Foundation Level Syllabus (Version 2018 v3.1), Section 5.2.5, "Configuration Management". This section describes the purpose of CM in testing. Its placement within Chapter 5, "Test Management," and specifically under section 5.2, "Test Planning and Estimation," firmly associates the establishment of CM procedures with the test planning phase. The test plan, an output of this phase, documents these procedures.

2. Hambling, B., Morgan, P., Samaroo, A., & Williams, G. (2021). Software Testing: An ISTQB-BCS Certified Tester Foundation Guide (4th ed.). BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT. In Chapter 5, "Test Management," the text explains that the test plan specifies the items that need to be under configuration control and the procedures that will be used. This confirms that CM procedures are determined and set up during the planning stage. (See Section 5.2.2, "Test plan content").