SMP/E is a tool used to install and maintain software on z/OS systems. It controls changes at the element level, selecting proper levels of elements to install from potential changes and calling system utilities to install the changes. SMP/E manages this process through zones - a global zone contains software not yet installed, a target zone contains installed software, and a distribution zone contains backup copies of installed software. SMP/E uses functions, SYSMODs, elements and other packaging constructs to model software and changes.