Since ITIL v3 was first released in 2007 it has seen adoption by many organizations. Last week OGC announced on their Best Management Practice web site in “ITIL Mandate For Change” that ITIL v3 will be updated.
This is not ITIL v4, but an update of the existing edition since the framework will for the most part will remain unchanged.
Since ITIL 3 was first released a change control log has captured 312 issues about the five core ITIL publications from user feedback. Feedback has also come from the ITIL v3 training community about inconsistencies that exist between the fire core publications and the concepts in the Service Strategy volume that “users are finding hard to grasp”.
The Aims Of The Project
- To update the publications in line with a number of issues raised in the Change Control Log. Not everything will be addressed – some technical changes are seen as too much for this evolutionary change.
- To remedy the inconsistencies that exist between the content and layout of the publications.
- To answer some of the criticisms that have been leveled at the core publications by the training community.
- To simplify the Service Strategy publication to ensure that the concepts are readily understood and that the content is accessible to a greater number of users.
The Scope of The Project
- Look at remedying inconsistencies within the content of the five books:
- –– Roles need to be made consistent across the books, ensuring that the activities apply only to one role
- –– Clarify that the organizational structures given as examples are indicative rather than prescriptive.
- Restructure the guidance to ensure that all five publications are organized in the same way:
- –– Ensure that each process has goals, purpose and objectives
- –– Look at how the processes are dealt with, and ensure a common treatment for all
- Ensure that the books are aligned, w • here relevant, with guidance in MSP™, M_o_R®, PRINCE2® and P3O®.
- Give clear explanations and descriptions of roles and responsibilities
- Standardize the use of glossary definitions within the five titles. Ensure that the explanations in the text align with those in the glossary
- Update to the glossary to take account of the comments made in the Change Control Log
- Examine the definition and usage of the roles of Product Manager and Service Owner
- Ensure that service catalogue manager appears within Service Operation
- Redesign the content according to OGC’s updated style guidelines.
Most comments center around the need to update the Service Strategy as well as other housekeeping on the five core books. No date for when the update will occur has been announced.