A package configuration describes the selection and setting of values and options that customize a COTS package for
installation.
The customization rules and standards for configuration parameters are key elements that should be well known, agreed
to, and documented with the stakeholders so that the package can be can be correctly configured with the appropriate
settings to support the intended business processes and organization. There might have to be compromises made in the
business processes and organization to accommodate the limitations of the chosen package. The selected package might
provide some assistance with configuration tools and techniques.
Building on the rules and standards and the package characteristics, the COTS Configuration Specification artifact
identifies and describes the parameters for a solution-specific version of a package. A variety of means such as
configuration scripts or files containing lists of parameters may be used to identify and describe the parameters that
typically include the following:
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Global settings.
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Country settings.
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Languages.
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Currencies (such as exchange rates, decimal places, and rounding rules).
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Units of measurement.
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Calendar.
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Chart of accounts.
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Company codes.
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Organization structure and hierarchy elements.
While it is essential to configure the package parameters themselves correctly to allow the intended business processes
and organization to operate, it is vital to document the background decisions made in choosing the parameter settings.
This documentation should include:
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Who performed the configuration
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Change management history
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Who approved the changes and the configuration
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Scenarios required to test the configuration
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How the configuration meets the stakeholder's business process and organizational requirements
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