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Running a CAB Meeting in CAB Workbench

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In this lesson, you will learn:

  • The parts of CAB Workbench
  • How an agenda item is handled
  • How decisions and notes are recorded
  • How to test a CAB meeting

🔁 Quick look back: Last time: CAB Definitions and Meetings. You learned how a CAB definition sets the chair, members, schedule and agenda rules.

1 “We ran out of time again”

Last week’s CAB lasted two hours.

  • The first change took 40 minutes.
  • The last three were approved in a rush.
  • Nobody wrote down why one change was rejected.

🎯 The problem: CAB meetings without structure run long, and decisions aren’t recorded.

👉 The fix: run CAB in CAB Workbench: a timer for each item, and decisions saved on the change.

2 Inside CAB Workbench

CAB Workbench during the SNWR Weekly CAB. The agenda lists four changes, each with a 5-minute slot. The current item is CHG0030045, Replace VPN gateway certificate, High risk, planned Sunday 02:00, presented by Ravi. Buttons: Approve, Reject and Skip. Notes: 1 The agenda shows every change and its slot. 2 The timer keeps each item to 5 minutes. 3 Mei's decision and notes are saved on the change.
Figure 1. One change at a time, with a timer.

3 How each item runs

  1. Mei opens the item. The change details show for everyone.
  2. Ravi presents: what, why, risk and backout.
  3. Members ask questions. The timer runs.
  4. Mei records the decision: Approve, Reject or move to next week.
  5. The decision and notes are saved on the change.

💡 Good to know: Ask every presenter the same three questions: What if it fails? How do you undo it? Who is told?

⚠️ Heads up: Never approve a change with open conflicts. Send it back to be fixed first.

4 Let’s try it: run a test CAB

  1. Make sure a High risk normal change is in Authorize, so it’s on your CAB’s agenda.
  2. Impersonate Mei Chen. Open CAB Workbench and open the next SNWR Weekly CAB meeting.
  3. Start the meeting. Open the first agenda item.
  4. Add decision notes and approve the change.
  5. End the meeting. Open the change and check the approval and notes are on it.

5 Quick recap

  • CAB Workbench shows the agenda, a timer and the change details
  • Each item: present, discuss, decide
  • Decisions and notes are saved on the change
  • Ask: what if it fails, how do you undo it, who is told?
  • Don’t approve changes with open conflicts

6 Check yourself

Think of your answer first. Then tap to check.

1 What keeps each CAB item short? Show answer

The timer, for example 5 minutes each.

2 Where is Mei’s decision saved? Show answer

On the change, with her notes.

3 A change has open conflicts. Approve it? Show answer

No. Send it back to be fixed first.

4 Name one question to ask every presenter. Show answer

What if it fails? How do you undo it? Who is told?

Nice work! You tested a CAB meeting. 🎉
Next up: Change Properties and Closure Rules

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