# OPS02-BP05 Mechanisms exist to request additions, changes, and exceptions
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You can make requests to owners of processes, procedures, and resources. Requests include additions, changes, and exceptions. These requests go through a change management process. Make informed decisions to approve requests where viable and determined to be appropriate after an evaluation of benefits and risks. 

 **Desired outcome:** 
+  You can make requests to change processes, procedures, and resources based on assigned ownership. 
+  Changes are made in a deliberate manner, weighing benefits and risks. 

 **Common anti-patterns:** 
+  You must update the way you deploy your application, but there is no way to request a change to the deployment process from the operations team. 
+  The disaster recovery plan must be updated, but there is no identified owner to request changes to. 

 **Benefits of establishing this best practice:** 
+  Processes, procedures, and resources can evolve as requirements change. 
+  Owners can make informed decisions when to make changes. 
+  Changes are made in a deliberate manner. 

 **Level of risk exposed if this best practice is not established:** Medium 

## Implementation guidance
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 To implement this best practice, you need to be able to request changes to processes, procedures, and resources. The change management process can be lightweight. Document the change management process. 

 **Customer example** 

 AnyCompany Retail uses a responsibility assignment (RACI) matrix to identify who owns changes for processes, procedures, and resources. They have a documented change management process that’s lightweight and easy to follow. Using the RACI matrix and the process, anyone can submit change requests. 

 **Implementation steps** 

1.  Identify the processes, procedures, and resources for your workload and the owners for each. Document them in your knowledge management system. 

   1.  If you have not implemented [OPS02-BP01 Resources have identified owners](ops_ops_model_def_resource_owners.md), [OPS02-BP02 Processes and procedures have identified owners](ops_ops_model_def_proc_owners.md), or [OPS02-BP03 Operations activities have identified owners responsible for their performance](ops_ops_model_def_activity_owners.md), start with those first. 

1.  Work with stakeholders in your organization to develop a change management process. The process should cover additions, changes, and exceptions for resources, processes, and procedures. 

   1.  You can use [AWS Systems Manager Change Manager](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/systems-manager/latest/userguide/change-manager.html) as a change management platform for workload resources. 

1.  Document the change management process in your knowledge management system. 

 **Level of effort for the implementation plan:** Medium. Developing a change management process requires alignment with multiple stakeholders across your organization. 

## Resources
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 **Related best practices:** 
+  [OPS02-BP01 Resources have identified owners](ops_ops_model_def_resource_owners.md) - Resources need identified owners before you build a change management process. 
+  [OPS02-BP02 Processes and procedures have identified owners](ops_ops_model_def_proc_owners.md) - Processes need identified owners before you build a change management process. 
+  [OPS02-BP03 Operations activities have identified owners responsible for their performance](ops_ops_model_def_activity_owners.md) - Operations activities need identified owners before you build a change management process. 

 **Related documents:** 
+ [AWS Prescriptive Guidance - Foundation palybook for AWS large migrations: Creating RACI matrices ](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/prescriptive-guidance/latest/large-migration-foundation-playbook/team-org.html#raci)
+ [ Change Management in the Cloud Whitepaper ](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/whitepapers/latest/change-management-in-the-cloud/change-management-in-the-cloud.html)

 **Related services:** 
+ [AWS Systems Manager Change Manager](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/systems-manager/latest/userguide/change-manager.html)