Which Practice Area is linked to the management of product configuration?

The practice area associated with the management of product configuration is Configuration Management (CM). This area focuses specifically on establishing and maintaining the integrity of products throughout their life cycle by tracking and controlling changes to the product's configuration. Configuration Management includes processes for identifying and documenting the configuration of system components, controlling changes to these configurations, and ensuring that the current configuration is known and maintained.

It's essential because it ensures that the product remains consistent and that any changes made are done with a thorough understanding of their impact. Effective configuration management helps organizations maintain product quality and facilitates effective communication among teams about the state of the product.

The other practice areas, such as Process Asset Development, Monitor and Control, and Implementation Infrastructure, deal with broader topics related to process improvement, project oversight, and establishing the infrastructure necessary for implementing processes, but they do not focus specifically on managing product configuration.