This standard establishes the minimum required contents of a Software Configuration Management (SCM) Plan (also referred to as ??the Plan??). This standard applies to the entire life cycle of critical software; e.g.@ where failure would impact safety or cause large financial or social losses. It also applies to noncritical software and to software already developed. The application of this standard is not restricted to any form@ class@ or type of software. Purpose The SCM Plan documents what SCM activities are to be done@ how they are to be done@ who is responsible for doing specific activities@ when they are to happen@ and what resources are required. It can address SCM activities over any portion of a software product??s life cycle. This standard is consistent with the IEEE Software Engineering Body of Knowledge (SWEBOK) project Stoneman release on the topic of configuration management and with IEEE/EIA Std 12207.0? [B4]1@2. The content of the Plan is identified in Clause 3 of this standard. The required information is indicated by the words ??shall?? and ??required.?? Additional optional information is also identified as appropriate. The user of this standard@ however@ is expected to expand and supplement the minimum requirements as necessary for the development environment@ specific industry@ organization@ and project. Adapting a plan in conformance with this standard is described in Clause 4. The primary users of this standard are assumed to be those planning SCM activities or performing SCM audits. In considering adoption of this standard@ regulatory bodies should be aware that specific application of this standard may already be covered by one or more IEEE standards documents relating to quality assurance@ definitions@ or other matters (see IEEE Std 730?-2002 [B3]). It is not the purpose of this standard to supersede@ revise@ or amend existing standards directed to specific industries or applications.1IEEE publications are available from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers@ 445 Hoes Lane@ P.O. Box 1331@ Piscataway@ NJ 08855-1331@ USA 2 The numbers in brackets correspond to those of the bibliography in Annex A.