Configuration Analyst

Summary

A configuration analyst provides administrative support to the change and release manager, helping to maintain the integrity of the configuration management database (CMDB) and independently solving smaller problems.

Background

Background Components

Description Background

Demonstrates a meticulous method of working and attention to detail. Has general awareness of all phases of the systems development and service lifecycles. Is effective and persuasive in the presentation of local procedures, both orally and in writing.

Prior Knowledge and Skills

Work Activity Components

Title Details

Change documentation

Documents changes and circulates change documentation to a defined distribution of

Process and procedures

Applies change control procedures.

Plans and schedules

Assists with the production of schedules of requests for change (RFC) for managing changes to the live environment.

Change development and implementation

Tracks, and may assist with the development and/or implementation of, approved changes in accordance with RFC and approval documentation.

Status and progress reporting

Carries out simple enquiries on the status of changes, using the change database where appropriate.

Queries and information

Responds to queries from clients/users and contacts clients/users (for whom change management service is provided) to raise queries and provide information on status of change etc.

Database update

Transcribes data on to the change control database, ensuring accuracy and consistency of data.

Awareness

Assists with the provision of awareness material to clients/users to explain the importance of a structured change management process.

Implementation and controls

Ensures implementation of information, and records management policies and standard practice, ensuring that information is protected, available and accessible, and can be retrieved as required. Complies with all relevant information and data security policies and procedures.

Release and deployment

Uses the tools and techniques, which may include automation, for specific release and deployment activities. These may include problem investigation and participation in roll-back when

Processes, tools and methods

Administers the recording of activities, the logging of results and documents the technical activity undertaken. This may include providing input on known problems and solutions to change management and other functions.

Early-life support

May carry out Early Life Support activities such as providing support advice to initial users.

Knowledge/Skills

Knowledge/Skills Components

Title Depth Details Type

Information Acquisition

Identifying gaps in the available information required to understand a problem or situation and devising a means of resolving them.

Behavioural Skills

Attention to Detail

Applying specific quality standards to all tasks undertaken to ensure that deliverables are accurate and complete.

Behavioural Skills

Teamwork

Working collaboratively with others to achieve a common goal.

Behavioural

Application Systems

Aware of

Technical or functional understanding of Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) applications and/or other bespoke software deployed within the organisation in order to provide system configuration, audit, technical, and/or functional support.

Technical Knowledge and Skills

Application Development Tools

Familiar with

Software tools which automate or assist part of the development process.

Technical Knowledge and Skills

Corporate, Industry and Professional Standards

Aware of

Applying standards, practices, codes, and assessment and certification programmes relevant to the IT industry, and the specific organisation or business domain.

Technical Knowledge and Skills

Operational/Service Architecture

Aware of

Knowledge of the IT/IS infrastructure and the IT applications and service processes used within own organisation, including those associated with sustainability and efficiency.

Technical Knowledge and Skills

Business Environment

Aware of

The business environment relating to own sphere of work (own organisation and/or closely associated organisations, such as customers, suppliers, partners and competitors), in particular those aspects of the business that the specialism is to support (i.e. localised organisational awareness from a technical perspective).

Technical Knowledge and Skills

IT Environment

Aware of

The IT environment relating to own sphere of work (own organisation and/or closely associated organisations, such as customers, suppliers, partners), in particular own organisation’s technical platforms and those that interface to them through the specialism, including those in closely-related organisations.

Technical Knowledge and Skills

Big Data

Aware of

The discipline associated with data sets so large and/or complex that traditional data processing applications are inadequate. The data files may include structured, unstructured and/or semi-structured data, such as unstructured text, audio, video, etc. Challenges include analysis, capture, curation, search, sharing, storage, transfer, manipulation, analysis, visualization and information privacy.

Technical Knowledge and Skills

Cloud/Virtualisation

Aware of

The principles and application of cloud/ virtualisation (including ownership, responsibilities and security implications). Use of tools and systems to manage virtualised environments.

Technical Knowledge and Skills

Development Approach

Familiar with

Understanding and application of different development approaches e.g. iterative/ incremental methodologies (Agile, XP, TDD, SCRUM) or traditional sequential methodologies (Waterfall or V-Model). Irrespective of development methodology a DevOps approach may also be taken where development and operational staff work collaboratively.

Technical Knowledge and Skills

Release Management

Familiar with

The management of the processes, systems and functions to package, build, test and deploy changes and updates which are bounded as releases into the pre-production or production environment; concession management on acceptance of level of non- conforming release items.

Technical Knowledge and Skills

DevOps

Familiar with

The collaborative approach consisting of agile practices, processes, and procedures designed to facilitate rapid IT service and product delivery. DevOps emphasizes people (and culture) and seeks to improve collaboration between development (Dev) and operations (Ops) teams with the aim of shortening the systems development life cycle to provide continuous release of high-quality software.

Technical Knowledge and Skills

Agile

Familiar with

A collection of methods, practises, tools and techniques, underpinned by the Agile Manifesto, that enable teams to deliver high value products and services in small, workable, increments. An Agile culture typically encompasses concepts such as Servant-Leaders; ceremonies, Stand-Ups, Sprints and Retrospectives; and the deployment of tools and techniques such as Backlogs and A/B Testing.

Technical Knowledge and Skills

Document Management Techniques

Familiar with

Methods and techniques for the organisation, storage and version control of information in both paper and electronic formats.

Other Knowledge and Skills

Operations Management

Aware of

Methods, techniques and tools for planning, organising, resourcing, directing, co- ordinating and monitoring ongoing (non-project) activities.

Other Knowledge and Skills

Quality Management

Aware of

The system or method for the management of quality within the employing organisation’s Information Technology practices, including quality planning, assurance

Other Knowledge and Skills

Risk Management

Aware of

Methods and techniques for the assessment and management of business risk including safety-related risk.

Other Knowledge and Skills

Time Management Techniques

Proficient in

Methods and techniques for making effective use of own time.

Other Knowledge and Skills

Information Assurance

Aware of

Information assurance methods, tools and techniques (including the Caldicott Principles) used to protect the integrity, availability, authenticity, non-repudiation and confidentiality of user data and manage the risks related to the use, processing, storage, and transmission of information.

Other Knowledge and Skills

Training Activities

Training Components

Title Details

Systems Development

Systems development, including development life cycles and methods, organisation interfaces, typical corporate application architectures, project and programme management, risk management and change control.

Infrastructure Hardware and System Software

Hardware, communication networks and system software that provides the organisation’s IT infrastructure; features of the infrastructure that need to be taken account of in hardware/software installation, with due attention to sustainability impacts e.g. back-up and recovery, virtualisation techniques to optimise efficient energy use of system hardware components, load sharing in communication networks; availability and use of Cloud services.

Service Management Standards

Approaches, frameworks and standards for service management, such as ITIL, SIAM, VeriSM, CMMI Services and the international standard ISO/IEC 20000 for IT Service Management.

Data Protection and GDPR

Data protection legislation, regulatory framework and compliance, including GDPR (General Data Protection Act).

Service Management

Principles, methods and techniques for managing IT services, including the preparation, understanding and use of Service Level Agreements, Operational Level Agreements and underpinning contracts.

Security Awareness

Tools and techniques to help users and employees understand the role they play in helping to combat information security breaches and for IT and security professionals to prevent and mitigate risk.

Health and Safety

Understanding statutory health and safety requirements relating to the working environment and/or the tools and techniques to promote, communicate, implement and maintain a health and safety culture.

PDAs

PDA Components

Title Details

Participation in Group Activities

Participating in group activities inside or outside of the working environment that can assist with the development of interpersonal skills.

Deputising

Standing in for supervisor or manager on a temporary basis during periods of absence.

Job Shadowing and Special Assignments

Undertaking temporary periods or secondments in other roles, inside or outside IT, particularly those that offer a new perspective on own function or exposure to other environments and cultures.

Gaining Knowledge of Employing Organisation

Gaining basic knowledge of the employing organisation, its business, structure, culture, policies, products/services, operations and terminology.

Gaining Knowledge of Surrounding Technical Areas

Gaining knowledge of IT activities in employing organisation external to own function.

Research Assignments

Exploring a topic which is not part of own normal responsibilities and presenting findings to colleagues and/or management

Involvement in Professional Body Activities

Attending meetings, seminars and workshops organised by professional body and reading published material, such as journals and web content.

Team Working

Undertaking learning and practice in the techniques of team and collaborative working. Gaining an understanding of the underlying concepts.

Communications

Undertaking learning and practice in oral and written communications, including report writing and presentation.

Qualifications

Qualification Components

Title Awarding Body

Registered IT Technician (RITTech)

BCS – The Chartered Institute for IT

ITIL Foundation

AXELOS

FEDIP Associate Practitioner

FEDIP

Organisation Skills

Framework » Organisation
Category » Subcategory
Skill Name and Description Level

DDaT » IT Operations Job Family

IT Ops – Asset and configuration management

You can conduct life cycle management for assets including hardware, software, intellectual property, licences and warranties. You can manage usage, disposal, compliance, inventory, sustainability, cost optimisation and protection of the asset portfolio. You can help to improve investment decisions and capitalise on opportunities. You can comply with international standards for asset management. You can document information relating to assets including identification, classification and specification of all items, and information related to storage, access and versions. You can apply status accounting and auditing in line with relevant criteria.

2 – Working

You can maintain secure configuration and accurate information, controlling IT assets in one or more significant areas. You can verify the location and state of assets.

DDaT » IT Operations Job Family

IT Ops – Availability and capacity management

You can define, analyse, plan, forecast, measure, maintain and improve all aspects of the availability of services, including power. You can control and manage service availability to meet business needs cost-effectively, including managing the capability, functionality and sustainability of service components (such as hardware, software, network resources, and software or

1 – Awareness

You can show an awareness of availability and capacity management processes.

DDaT » IT Operations Job Family

IT Ops – Change management

You can manage service changes, configuration items, organisational change, supplier change and associated documentation. You can request changes in response to incidents or problems that provide effective control and reduction of risk to security performance and availability. You can ensure compliance of the business services impacted by the change. You can understand policy, principles and approach. You can apply understanding and knowledge in project or programme activities. You can develop experience in the use of change management tools and processes.

1 – Awareness

You can implement changes based on requests for change. You can apply change control procedures.

DDaT » IT Operations Job Family

IT Ops – Continual service improvement

You can identify and explore opportunities for service and business improvement. You can produce analysis and identify, prioritise and implement improvements and efficiencies, ensuring that the organisation derives maximum value from services. You can recognise the potential for automation of processes, determine costs and benefits of new approaches, and manage change or assist implementation where needed.

1 – Awareness

You can show an awareness of developing process efficiency and common ways in which processes are optimised. You can support specific activities to improve development processes. You can spot or identify obvious deficiencies.

DDaT » IT Operations Job Family

IT Ops – Incident management

You can co-ordinate the response to incident reports, ensuring relevant prioritisation and detail to allow effective investigation. You can identify the correct procedures or channels for resolution and monitor resolution activity and progress updates for customers. You can understand the relevant change management tools and processes.

1 – Awareness

You can identify and register incidents, gathering the required information and allocating it to the appropriate channel.

DDaT » IT Operations Job Family

IT Ops – Ownership and initiative

You can take ownership of problems and proactively resolve technical problems, ensuring that technical solutions continue to meet business requirements. You can take full accountability for the actions taken and decisions made.

1 – Awareness

You can show an awareness of problem resolution processes. You can pass problems on to your team.

DDaT » IT Operations Job Family

IT Ops – Problem management

You can understand and identify problems, analysing and helping to identify the appropriate solution. You can classify and prioritise problems, document their causes and implement remedies.

1 – Awareness

You can investigate problems in systems, processes and services, with an understanding of the level of a problem (for example, strategic, tactical or operational). You can contribute to the implementation of remedies and preventative measures.

DDaT » IT Operations Job Family

IT Ops – Service focus

You can maintain focus on the whole life of service delivery (designing, developing, delivering and operating). You can ensure that a set of IT products, suppliers and vendors come together to deliver an IT service.

1 – Awareness

You can show an awareness of different products and services.

DDaT » IT Operations Job Family

IT Ops – Service management framework knowledge

You can show an in-depth understanding of service management framework principles and processes. You can apply the technical knowledge in project or programme activities.

1 – Awareness

You have a Level 3 service management framework qualification.

DDaT » IT Operations Job Family

IT Ops – Technical understanding

You can demonstrate knowledge of the specific technologies necessary to fulfil the responsibilities and tasks of the role. You can apply the required breadth and depth of technical knowledge. You can actively keep informed of industry developments to make cost- effective use of new and emerging tools and technologies.

1 – Awareness

You can show an awareness of the relevant subject matter and a high-level understanding of what it involves.

DDaT » IT Operations Job Family

IT Ops – User focus

You can understand users and identify who they are and what their needs are, based on evidence. You can translate user stories and propose design approaches or services to meet these needs. You can engage in meaningful interactions and relationships with users. You can show that you put users first and can manage competing

1 – Awareness

You can show an awareness or understanding of user experience analysis and its principles. You can explain the purpose of user stories and the focus on user needs.

DDaT » IT Operations Job Family

IT Ops – Community collaboration

You can contribute to the work of the community, building successful teams through understanding team styles and influencing and motivating team members. You can give and receive constructive feedback, enabling the feedback loop. You can moderate conflict resolution within teams. You can ensure that the team is transparent and that the work is understood externally. You can help teams maintain a focus on delivery while being aware of the importance of professional development.

2 – Working

You can contribute to the work of others. You can motivate and empower teams. You can create the right environment for teams to work in and can identify the best team makeup depending on the situation. You can recognise and deal with issues.

DDaT » IT Operations Job Family

IT Ops – Continuity management

You can provide service continuity planning and support. You can identify information and systems that support critical business processes, and assess the risks to their availability, integrity and confidentiality. You can co-ordinate planning, designing, testing and maintenance procedures and contingency plans, to address exposures and maintain agreed levels of continuity.

1 – Awareness

You can show an awareness of the IT standard continuity management processes and procedures.

This job role profile was created in collaboration with BCS, using Role Model Plus. BCS is the professional body that has the responsibility of updating this job family.

Summary

A configuration analyst provides administrative support to the change and release manager, helping to maintain the integrity of the configuration management database (CMDB) and independently solving smaller problems.

The Professional Body Responsible for this job family is BCS. This job role profile was created in collaboration with BCS, using Role Model Plus.

Give Feedback

The Occupational Architecture Project is interactive and dynamic


If you would like to provide feedback on this job role, or the job families, please click the button below.

Give Feedback