What is the purpose of baselines in Configuration Management?

• A. Baselines provide a controlled reference point for work products and enable traceability of changes.
• B. Baselines record risk exposure.
• C. Baselines describe customer needs.
• D. Baselines measure product quality.

Answer: (A)

Baselines in Configuration Management provide a controlled reference point for work products and enable traceability of changes. By formally reviewing and agreeing on a specific version of configuration items, a baseline fixes what is included, establishes a stable snapshot, and serves as the basis for future changes. This stability makes it possible to reproduce, compare, and audit the state of the product at a known moment, while also supporting change control and version tracking as work progresses.

That clarity and traceability is why baselines are essential: they anchor work, prevent uncontrolled modifications, and ensure everyone is working from the same point. Baselines aren’t themselves mechanisms for assessing risk, capturing customer needs, or measuring quality; those functions come from risk management, requirements management, and quality assurance activities respectively.