Abstract: An apparatus (22,44) is described for use in generating configuration information for a computer system (12) employing hierarchical entities. A policy template (24) is employed which contains a definition of an abstract high-level policy, for the configuration of the system, and permitted refinements to that policy, the definition referring to a plurality of the entities. An information and system model (16) contains information about the computer system and its environment including the entities referred to in the high-level policy definition, the hierarchy thereof and non-hierarchical relations between the entities. A policy authoring engine (26) refines the high-level policy definition with reference to the permitted refinements thereto and the stored information about the entities to which the high-level policy definition relates in order to produce a refined policy definition.