how's this? The configuration management process may vary depending on the specific implementation and practices of an organization, but it is commonly divided into seven steps that help maintain the integrity, consistency, and reliability of a system (Configuration Management | Definition, Plan & Process, 2017, para.4). First, planning and identification are conducted to define the scope and objectives of the configuration management process and the activities involved with it. Configuration items and details like their features, characteristics, and specific purpose will be documented for future reference and to enrich the overall efficiency of the configuration management process. Next, version control and baselines will manage and track the different versions of configuration items so that a clear history of the evolution of configuration items can be recorded and specific versions can be retrieved and referenced. Third, change control is emphasized by identifying, evaluating, and managing changes to configuration items to ensure that modifications are implemented in a controlled manner. Configuration status accounting is the procedure of gathering and documenting the conditions and status of configuration items throughout their lifecycle. Because decisions need to be authorized and take time to execute, a record of each item in a system and their state is required for members to efficiently coordinate. After status accounting is complete, verification is done to validate implemented changes and check that new issues and errors were not introduced to the system. Configuration auditing follows status accounting, and it is the process of verifying that all configuration's identification and documentation are accurate and coincide with the overall project's design. Although software auditing is an investment of time and money, it pays dividends in avoidance of costly retrofits and slipped schedules from the discovery of major design flaws where software cannot be easily or economically modified (Bersoff, 1984, p.85). Once configuration auditing is done, review and reporting are conducted to evaluate the proposed changes, assess their feasibility, and determine their impact on the overall system. Reports on identified risks, conflicts, and progress of configuration activities provide transparency and accountability for stakeholders, and it maintains a systematic and controlled approach to managing changes. Ultimately, configuration management provides stability, reliability, and predictability for a system as it changes over time