Currently, the nuclear industry and governmental organizations are showing an increasing interest in the implementation of Configuration Management (CM) processes as an effective way for limiting configuration errors and related risks. In this report the necessary attributes of a good operational CM are identified. It is recognized and emphasized that CM is one aspect of the overall management system. Nevertheless, this is an important part of managerial activity focused on the compliance of knowledge of the plant personnel, plant documentation and records with the state of the plant technology. The concepts developed in this report present a basic approach to CM, taking into consideration experience gained from organizations and utilities which have successfully implemented partial or full CM programmes and from discussions at meetings organized by the IAEA on the subject.