While I don't have any real data, for a good look at how it was done before things like Jira and FogBugz, I'd first look at IBM and the military. IBM used to do a lot of consulting for both documentation and process compliance though I don't know much of the details (mostly heard stories from my uncle who works for them). The military did it largely with strict discipline and documenting everything in triplicate if the media is any indication and even then they likely weren't perfect.
The technology layers enable a strict uncaring rule keeper to do the job at all times and enforce things even if they might not apply, it makes the task simpler but it's still some of the same idea, a single bottleneck exists to ensure compliance for something and it gets well documented.
The technology layers enable a strict uncaring rule keeper to do the job at all times and enforce things even if they might not apply, it makes the task simpler but it's still some of the same idea, a single bottleneck exists to ensure compliance for something and it gets well documented.