Glossary · System coordination, integration and orchestration
Interface management
Also known as: interface control
German: Schnittstellenmanagement
In systems engineering, interface management is the set of activities that identify, define, control and verify the interfaces between system elements and with external systems throughout the life cycle, including assigning responsibilities and managing interface changes.
- System integration
In one sentence
Interface management identifies, defines, controls and verifies interfaces between system elements and external systems over the whole life cycle.
Example
The project keeps an interface register of 85 interfaces, each with an owner, a status and a link to its interface control document, and reviews it weekly.
How it applies
- Project management: Many integration problems are interface problems. An interface register with owners, status and due dates makes open interfaces visible early.
- Change: Interface changes affect at least two parties. Route them through Change control and inform all affected parties before implementation.
- Verification: Plan an Interface test for each interface and track results in the register.
- Documentation: The documentation team relies on current interface information for manuals and integration guides. Make interface documents part of the managed set, with versions and approval, so published documentation references the right revision.
Interface management vs. interface ownership
Interface management is the overall process. Interface ownership is the assignment of responsibility for a specific interface within that process.