Adapt the Configuration, Dependency, and Rules Framework to Your Enterprise - Application Management Best Practices

Adapt the Configuration, Dependency, and Rules Framework to Your Enterprise

(Chapter 111 of Application Management Best Practices)

Executive Summary: Chapter Overview

IF4IT

The Bottom Line

IF4IT’s baseline of fifteen configuration categories, twelve dependency types, and ten rule types is a starting point that each enterprise is expected to adapt. The owner of the Application Documentation Template, typically Enterprise Architecture or Software Engineering, should rename, add, merge, or split categories, record each adaptation and its reason, and publish the result with the template in the Digital Library. AI can accelerate the work, but human approval is always required.

Core Concepts

Concept	Definition & Strategic Role
Adapted Framework	An enterprise’s deliberately tailored version of the baseline configuration, dependency, and rules framework, fitted to its technologies, Application types, delivery practices, industry, and regulations. It is incorporated into the Application Documentation Template, published in the Digital Library, and versioned with the template.
Template Owner as Framework Adapter	The owner of the Application Documentation Template, typically Enterprise Architecture or Software Engineering, is responsible for adapting the framework. This owner reviews each category and type against the enterprise’s Applications and technologies, makes and records adaptations, and approves AI-generated proposals with the relevant stakeholders.
Adaptation Record	A record of each change made to the baseline framework and the reason for it, published alongside the adapted framework and the template. It keeps the framework understandable and defensible as it evolves over time.
AI-Assisted Framework Adaptation	Using an AI prompt, supplied with the baseline and a description of the enterprise, to propose whether each category and type should be kept, renamed, split, merged, or removed, plus any additions. Proposals must not remove categories needed for Security Secrets handling, recovery, or regulatory compliance.

Quick Q&A

Question: What kinds of enterprise circumstances might call for changes to the baseline configuration, dependency, and rules framework?

Answer: Enterprises differ in technologies, Application types, delivery practices, industries, and regulations. An enterprise with many embedded-device Applications may need far more detail on hardware dependencies. A heavily regulated enterprise may need additional rule types for validated configurations. An enterprise built mostly on SaaS may need richer categories for Application configuration and vendor dependencies.

Question: What safeguards apply when AI is used to propose an adapted framework?

Answer: The example prompt instructs the AI not to remove any category needed to document Security Secrets handling, recovery, or regulatory compliance, and to flag regulatory obligations that imply specific rules. Its proposals, presented as tables for review, must be reviewed and approved by the framework’s owner and the relevant stakeholders before they are adopted.

This chapter explains how enterprises can adapt the baseline framework for configurations, dependencies, and rules to their own circumstances, including how to use AI to help.

Why Adaptation Is Expected

The baseline framework is a foundational starting point, not a complete enumeration. Enterprises differ in their technologies, Application types, delivery practices, industries, and regulations. An enterprise with many embedded-device Applications may need far more detail on hardware dependencies; a heavily regulated enterprise may need additional rule types for validated configurations; an enterprise built mostly on SaaS may need richer categories for Application configuration and vendor dependencies.

Establish an Adapted Framework

Have the owner of the Application Documentation Template, typically Enterprise Architecture or Software Engineering, adapt the framework deliberately:

Review each category and type against the enterprise’s Applications and technologies.
Rename categories and types to match the enterprise’s vocabulary where helpful.
Add categories and types the enterprise needs, and merge or split those that do not fit.
Record each adaptation and the reason for it.
Incorporate the adapted framework into the Application Documentation Template.

AI can accelerate this work. An example prompt follows; it should be adapted to the enterprise’s own circumstances and AI tools.

Example AI Prompt: Adapt the Configuration, Dependency, and Rules Framework
You are helping our enterprise adapt the IF4IT baseline framework for Application configurations, dependencies, and rules. The baseline has fifteen configuration categories, twelve dependency types, and ten rule types, as described in the attached IF4IT Application Management Best Practices. Also use the attached description of our enterprise: our industry and regulatory obligations, our main technology platforms, our typical Application types and Sourcing Types, our delivery and deployment practices, and our existing configuration management standards. Propose an adapted framework. For each baseline category and type, recommend whether to keep it as is, rename it, split it, merge it, or remove it, and explain why. Propose any additional categories, types, or rules our circumstances require, with examples. Flag any regulatory obligation that implies a specific rule. Do not remove any category that is needed to document Security Secrets handling, recovery, or regulatory compliance. Present the result as tables we can review and approve.

Example AI Prompt: Adapt the Configuration, Dependency, and Rules Framework

You are helping our enterprise adapt the IF4IT baseline framework for Application configurations, dependencies, and rules. The baseline has fifteen configuration categories, twelve dependency types, and ten rule types, as described in the attached IF4IT Application Management Best Practices. Also use the attached description of our enterprise: our industry and regulatory obligations, our main technology platforms, our typical Application types and Sourcing Types, our delivery and deployment practices, and our existing configuration management standards. Propose an adapted framework. For each baseline category and type, recommend whether to keep it as is, rename it, split it, merge it, or remove it, and explain why. Propose any additional categories, types, or rules our circumstances require, with examples. Flag any regulatory obligation that implies a specific rule. Do not remove any category that is needed to document Security Secrets handling, recovery, or regulatory compliance. Present the result as tables we can review and approve.

AI-generated proposals must be reviewed and approved by the framework’s owner and by the relevant stakeholders before they are adopted.

Publish the adapted framework, with a record of each adaptation and its reason, alongside the Application Documentation Template in the Digital Library, and version it with the template.

Best Practice: Adapt the Framework Deliberately to Your Enterprise

It is a best practice to both establish and document the solution for fitting the framework to the enterprise: have the template owner adapt the baseline categories, types, and rules deliberately, optionally with AI assistance and always with human approval, record each adaptation and its reason, and incorporate the result into the template.

Benefits: A deliberately adapted framework fits the enterprise’s real Applications, so teams document what actually matters rather than forcing their situation into categories that do not fit. Recording each adaptation and its reason keeps the framework understandable and defensible as it evolves.

The Technology Portfolio Management (TPM) Best Practices describes a similar approach to defining and adapting an IF4IT-suggested taxonomy. The Enterprise AI Governance Best Practices addresses the governance of AI used for such tasks.

How to cite this page

When referencing this page in academic work, internal standards, or external publications, include the page title, IF4IT as author and publisher (The International Foundation for Information Technology (IF4IT), LLC), the URL, and your access date.

Example (informal web citation):

The International Foundation for Information Technology (IF4IT), LLC. Adapt the Configuration, Dependency, and Rules Framework to Your Enterprise | Application Management Best Practices. https://if4it.org/best-practices/application-management-best-practices/adapt-the-configuration-dependency-and-rules-framework-to-your-enterprise/ (accessed 2026-10-30).

See About Us for content governance and site-wide citation guidance.

Legal Disclaimers

Why Adaptation Is Expected

Establish an Adapted Framework

Document and Share the Adapted Framework

Best Practice: Adapt the Framework Deliberately to Your Enterprise

Connections to Related IF4IT Practices and Inventories

How to cite this page