Change control is a systematic approach that includes the various steps needed to process changes made to a product or system.
Completing change control methodically is part of a change management process. The purpose of change control and change control management is to ensure that no unnecessary changes are made, all changes are documented, services are not disrupted unnecessarily, and resources are used efficiently. Within IT, where processing changes is a daily activity, change control is a component of change management.
The change control process is usually conducted as a sequence of steps resulting from the submission of a change request. Typical IT change requests include adding features to software applications, installing patches, and upgrading network equipment or systems.
