ITIL 4 - IT Process Wiki
ITIL 4 - IT Process Wiki
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ITIL 4
Main Page
What is ITIL?
ITIL 4 ITIL 4 - the most recent release of ITIL® [1] - was launched in Feb 2019. It's the first major
ITIL Processes
update to the ITIL framework since 2007, designed in large part to keep up with recent
ITIL Implementation
trends in software development and IT operations.
ITIL Checklists
ITIL Glossary On this page we answer your questions about the changes introduced with the latest edition
ISO 20000 of ITIL (see fig. 1: ITIL 4 FAQs).
ITIL Process Templates
Project Management
Why ITIL 4?
ITIL 4 brings the ITIL framework up to date, introducing a holistic approach to service management and focusing on 'end-to-end service management from
demand to value'.
The new edition of ITIL 4 is the first major update to ITIL since 2007 and is arguably a response to the emergence of newer service management frameworks
such as VeriSM™, SIAM® and FitSM. It expands the previous version of ITIL V3 ('ITIL 2011') and provides a flexible basis to support organizations on their
journey to the new world of digital transformation.
ITIL 4 describes an operating model for the delivery of tech-enabled products and services. The documentation has been completely revised and streamlined to
make it easier to read, and enhanced with many practical examples.
ITIL 4 also reflects recent trends in software development and IT operations, and includes advice on how to apply philosophies such as Agile, DevOps and Lean
in the domain of service management.
Last but not least, ITIL 4 makes a point of being "a framework for service management" (as opposed to "IT service management"), reflecting the growing trend of
applying service management best practices in the domain of enterprise and business services.
ITIL 4 components
ITIL 4 consists of two key components:
ITIL 4 defines four dimensions that should be considered to ensure a holistic approach to service management:
These dimensions are applicable to the service value system in general and to specific services.
The service value System (SVS) represents "how all the components and activities of an organization work together to facilitate value creation". The ITIL 4 SVS
includes several elements:
1. Guiding principles
2. Governance
3. Service value chain
4. Continual improvement
5. Practices.
Strategy management
Portfolio management
Architecture management
Service financial management
Workforce and talent management
Continual improvement
Measurement and reporting
Risk management
Information security management
Knowledge management
Organizational change management
Project management
Relationship management
Supplier management
Business analysis
Service catalogue management
Service design
Service level management
Availability management
Capacity and performance management
Service continuity management
Monitoring and event management
Service desk
Incident management
Service request management
Problem management
Release management
Change enablement
Service validation and testing
Service configuration management
IT asset management
Deployment management
Infrastructure and platform management
Software development and management
ITIL V3 contains detailed descriptions of 26 ITIL processes, arranged along the service lifecycle:
Service Strategy
Service Design
Service Transition
Service Operation
Continual Service Improvement
The service lifecycle has been dropped in ITIL 4 and the processes replaced with practices. But many of the ITIL 4 practices clearly correspond to the previous
ITIL V3 processes.
Other than that, ITIL 4 introduces additional guidance, to ensure practitioners better understand the core principles and concepts such as "value" and "outcomes".
ITIL 4 also provides advice for integrating ITIL with other frameworks and methodologies like DevOps, Lean and Agile.
Learn more about the differences between ITIL 4 and ITIL V3 (ITIL 2011) in our YaSM Service
Management Wiki.
ITIL 4 is thus not prescriptive regarding processes. But organizations still need to define their processes as a key element of their operating models (ITIL 4 says
that "organizations should define tailor-made processes", in line with their specific requirements).
Organizations looking for detailed process descriptions can still find them in the ITIL V3 publications (AXELOS state that ITIL 4 does not invalidate earlier vesions
of ITIL, and the processes as specified in ITIL V3 are therefore still valid guidance).
But the arrival of ITIL 4 and its preference for "simple and practical" ways of working also provides an opportunity for a fresh start with service management
processes.
If organizations are to keep things simple and become more agile, they will likely need processes
that are somewhat less complex than the 26 service management processes familiar from ITIL V3.
In the YaSM Service Management Wiki [2] we describe such a streamlined, clear-cut set of
service management processes that is a good match for the leaner, more flexible operating
models favored by today's service provider organizations.
The benchmark for the YaSM processes is ISO 20000 (ISO 20000:2018) , the international standard for service management.
What is more, these service management processes are designed to be used with a variety of frameworks and methods, such as
ITIL® 4,
SIAM®,
VeriSM™,
COBIT®,
Agile
and Lean, etc.
ITIL 4 includes updated guidance on multi-sourcing and service integration. These are key topics in the SIAM® framework.
ITIL 4 embraces new ways of working, such as Agile, Lean and DevOps, as well as organizational change management. These management practices and
their relevance for service management are also described in the VeriSM™ approach.
The ITIL 4 service value chain is somewhat reminiscent of the VeriSM™ model, with key areas such as define, produce, provide and respond.
ITIL 4 introduces the concept of a service value system. This fits in with a key requirement in the latest 2018 edition of ISO 20000 for organizations to
"establish, implement, maintain and continually improve" a service management system.
1. As in ITIL V3, Foundation is the entry level ITIL 4 certification, introducing the key elements, concepts and terminology used in ITIL.
2. After passing the Foundation exam, ITIL practitioners can choose between two ITIL 4 certification "streams", each consisting of several modules: ITIL 4
Managing Professional and ITIL 4 Strategic Leader.
The ITIL 4 Managing Professional (ITIL MP) stream "targets IT practitioners working within technology and digital teams across businesses". ITIL MP
consists of four modules:
1. ITIL 4 Specialist Create, Deliver and Support (CDS)
2. ITIL 4 Specialist Drive Stakeholder Value (DSV)
3. ITIL 4 Specialist High Velocity IT (HVIT)
4. ITIL 4 Strategist Direct Plan and Improve (DPI).
The ITIL 4 Strategic Leader (ITIL SL) stream focuses on business strategy and digitally enabled services. ITIL SL consists of two modules:
1. ITIL 4 Strategist Direct, Plan and Improve (DPI)
2. ITIL 4 Leader Digital and IT Strategy.
3. ITIL Master is the top-level qualification of the ITIL 4 certification scheme. There is no fixed training course or exam involved, but candidates need to
demonstrate "extensive practical hands-on experience with ITIL".
More information about the new ITIL 4 certification scheme is available on the AXELOS website: axelos.com/best-practice-solutions/itil .
ITIL V3 certifications will remain valid, but pressure to upgrade to the latest certifications is likely to grow. This is particularly true for ITSM consultants, whose
customers will often expect up-to-date qualifications.
For those who wish to migrate to the new ITIL 4 certification scheme, AXELOS have prepared a transition plan:
The best migration path towards the ITIL 4 scheme will depend on the number of credits already earned.
Candidates may either choose to restart their certification itinerary with ITIL 4 Foundation, or to complete ITIL V3 Expert and then take the ITIL 4 Managing
Professional Transition module.
Candidates who have achieved ITIL V3 Expert will be able to take the ITIL Managing Professional Transition module to achieve the ITIL Managing
Professional designation.
Further publications and certifications, reflecting the advanced levels of the ITIL 4 certification scheme, are scheduled for release in 2019 and thereafter:
ITIL 4 Specialist Create, Deliver and Support (available since November 2019)
ITIL 4 Specialist Drive Stakeholder Value (launch expected in Q1/2020)
ITIL 4 Specialist High Velocity IT (launch expected in Q1/2020)
ITIL 4 Strategist Direct Plan and Improve (available since November 2019)
ITIL 4 Leader Digital and IT Strategy (launch expected in H1/2020).
Exams for the ITIL 4 Managing Professional Transition module have been available since October 2019.
Notes
[1] ITIL® is a registered trademark of AXELOS Limited.
[2] YaSM® is a registered trademark of IT Process Maps GbR.
Objectives › Why ITIL 4? › ITIL 4 and ITIL V3: Differences › What about ITIL 4 processes? › ITIL 4 certification scheme
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