infrastructure library

Survey: ITIL challenges start with staff

Tue, 22 May 2007 20:01:39 -0400

A new survey from G2G3, a communication and gaming solutions vendor, finds that of all of the challenges IT directors face in adopting the new version of the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL), the largest are people-related. More than half of those surveyed plan to adopt ITIL V3, but more than 80 percent believe their biggest barriers will include achieving buy-in and gaining support from important stakeholders within the organization. Other concerns include resource issues and time. Only 17 percent believed that the financial implications of adopting the new ITIL V3 framework would pose a barrier to success.

Read more about the challenges in adopting ITIL V3:
- read the press release at ClickPress

ALSO:
- read this on the ROI of ITIL
- and this on making the most of ITIL

ITIL's new version: More business-focused

Sun, 06 May 2007 20:01:38 -0400

The newest version of ITIL, a best practices framework, will be more business-focused, according to ITIL architects. ITIL 3.0 will reflect the fact that line is blurring between service management and ITIL; as a result, the new version will discuss topics like facilities management and will include a case study of how to use ITIL outside of IT. Also, ITIL will no longer stand for the IT Infrastructure Library, but will be referred to as "ITIL - IT service management practices". ITIL 3.0 will also address gaps in current ITIL certifications to make them more helpful and appropriate to individuals' career development plans, and will include help on how IT staff can make marketing statements to the CIO and CEO.

Read more about how ITIL is changing:
- read the article at ITWeek

ALSO:
- read this on why ITIL may not be ready for prime time in the midmarket
- this on the ROI of ITIL
- and this on putting business ahead of technology

ITIL: Not ready for prime time in the midmarket?

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 20:01:38 -0400

Although the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL)--a sort of roadmap of best practices that helps IT departments adopt more efficient service management--is making great strides in the enterprise, some say that smaller companies won't get the benefits, at least not yet. Implementing ITIL requires making some big changes in infrastructure and working style, and it can be expensive and time-consuming. If you are set on it, though, try service management-specific solution providers like Pink Elephant, Service-now.com, Getronics and TraverseIT LLC, which help companies implement ITIL. Ultimately, however, ITIL will make inroads in the midmarket, and will make IT services more efficient in these companies. By mastering five processes that make up ITIL--incident management, problem management, change management, configuration management and release management--companies can minimize the time to identify and resolve service incidents.

Learn more about ITIL in the midmarket:
- read the article at CIO Decisions

ALSO:
- read this on the ROI of ITIL
- and this on putting business ahead of technology

Common pitfalls with ISO 20000

Tue, 27 Mar 2007 20:01:36 -0400

ISO 20000, an integrated framework for delivering and managing IT services to the customer based on the best practice foundation of the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL), can be difficult to implement. Many companies, for example, find that they have gaps in their processes. One pitfall is that existing processes and procedures don't align. To avoid this, establish the objectives and processes necessary to deliver results in accordance with customer requirements and the organization's policies, monitor and measure processes and services against policies' objectives and requirements and report the results, and take actions on the differences while continually improving process performance. Another problem may be that some processes don't exist, while others aren't being used. Fix that with a regular audit program. Other issues include not understanding the difference between process and procedures, lack of time for the audit, a reluctance to admit lack of full understanding of the requirements, and scope.

Read more to find out how to resolve these gaps:
- read the article at TechTarget

ALSO: read this on the ROI of ITIL

The ROI of ITIL

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 20:01:38 -0400

The IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL), a service-oriented approach to IT development, can help organizations manage their IT infrastructures and assure the availability of IT services. Often, however, it's difficult to justify the large investment ITIL requires and to demonstrate the ROI. Setting milestones and measuring the value of each phase of an implementation can help prove the project's value and shape its focus.

Learn more about justifying the ROI of ITIL:
- download the white paper at SearchCIO

ALSO: read this on putting business ahead of technology

Putting business ahead of technology

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 19:01:38 -0500

The IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL)--a widely accepted approach to IT service management that offers a host of best practices--turns IT development on its head. The service-oriented approach to IT development encourages IT staff to first understand the company's business needs and only then to determine what technology is required to accomplish those goals. ITIL also improves communication by providing a common language.

Learn how to apply ITIL to your organization:
- read the article at Insurance Networking News

Achieving an appropriate staffing level

Mon, 07 Aug 2006 20:01:35 -0400

Determining the necessary level of staff at large organizations is a major task, but as one tech leader relates, it can be done if you grab a little bit of something from the three top models usually in play: the activity-based costing approach, the traditional supply-and-demand strategy and guidelines of the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL). Although using such a hybrid approach may take a little longer and pay off farther down the road, a CEO and consultant say it's the best way for managing staffing and skills needs whether you're got too much staff or not enough to get the IT job done.

For more on getting a grip on staffing needs:
- read this article at Optimize

ALSO NOTED: Top tech predictions; Refresh IT Infrastructure Library; and much more...

Thu, 18 May 2006 20:01:33 -0400

> IDC's top tech predictions in services. Article

> Tech chiefs call for a refresh of the IT Infrastructure Library. Article

> Why the supposed "bubble" isn't a tech industry bubble at all. Article

> Why Google is going ga-ga to get users' trust. Article

> Explaining the "big deal" over Java going open source. Article

And Finally... Were the 'Hobbits' a new species or not? Article