Learn All About ITIL 4, the Latest Version of ITIL

IT service management has been based on the processes and concepts proposed by the Information Technology Infrastructure Library. In this blog, we will talks about its latest version, ITIL 4.

ITIL or Information Technology Infrastructure Library is the world’s most popular Service Management best practice framework. The first version was launched in the 1980s under the name of Government Information Technology Infrastructure Management (GITIM) by the CCTA, part of the British government. It aimed towards aligning the delivery of IT services as per the requirements and expectations of the government. In this article, we will talk about the latest version of ITIL, which is ITIL 4.

Content

• What is ITIL 4?
• What is the ITIL 4 Service Value System?
• ITIL 4 Four-Dimensional Model
• ITIL Version 4 features

Must Read – What is ITIL?

What is ITIL 4?

ITIL 4 is the fourth and final published edition of the ITIL framework. It was released in February 2019 as the official successor to ITIL v3. It is an adaptable framework to manage IT services. ITIL 4 helps to optimize digital technologies and builds on the previous versions to provide comprehensive and practical guidance. 

It supports traditional service management activities and can also be aligned with transformative technologies, such as Cloud, Automation, and AI. ITIL 4 works with DevOps, Lean, Agile, PRINCE2®, AgileSHIFT®, etc. It forms the base for the international standard ISO 20000 and the workflows in many service management software platforms.

Must Explore – ITIL Courses

What is the ITIL 4 Service Value System?

The ITIL 4 Service Value System describes the collaboration of all IT service management components and activities involved in creating value in an organization. The system is divided into the following five basic points:

ITIL Service Value Chain: a combination of the six key activities with the aim of adding value to the end user. These activities are planning, improvement, commitment, design/transition, procurement, and delivery/support.

ITIL Guiding Principles: Basic principles for high-quality IT service management such as a focus on value, transparent collaboration, simplicity or continuous optimization.

Governance – Pre-defined standards and rules that IT managers must take as a basis for the provision and management of their services.

Continuous improvement – ​​The effort to improve the services offered on an ongoing basis, which also plays an important role at other points, such as in the value chain.

ITIL Practices – 34 best practices that provide IT service providers with a set of organizational resources developed to get a job done or a goal accomplished.

ITIL 4 Four-Dimensional Model

Agile IT service management goes beyond simply managing technology. This includes both the different organizations of a company and the individuals, processes and technologies used. Relationships with partners and suppliers also play an important role. Using the four dimensions model, ITIL 4 brings these areas together for a comprehensive approach to IT service management.

Organizations and people: Organizations encompass the formal structure and ensure an adequate degree of skills and competencies. All the people involved must be aware at all times of their role in the value system of the service.

Information and technology: deals mainly with the technologies used in the management of IT services. For example, tools or knowledge bases. On the other hand, it deals with the handling of the information that companies generate, store, manage and use when offering an IT service.

Partners and suppliers: depending on different factors, such as costs, company culture, technical knowledge or the company’s own strategy, companies integrate third-party organizations to a greater or lesser extent in a business process.

Value Streams and Processes – This dimension provides a definition of all activities, workflows, and processes required to achieve business objectives. In addition, it considers the interaction of different components of the company and the way in which they participate in the value-creation process.

Also Read: 10 Most In-Demand Tech Skills

ITIL Version 4 features

The new ITIL approach seeks to add value through integrative practices that take into account all sectors of an organization. ITIL 4 focuses on the creation of added value and the rapid delivery of high-quality services.

Service Value System

The Service Value System (SVS) is a key component of ITIL 4 that facilitates joint value creation, as it describes how all components and activities of an organization work together. As the SVS seeks to integrate business management, leveraging it with other organizations, it builds an ecosystem allowing value to be created for those organizations and their clients as well. 

The Service Value System is materialized in a Value Creation Chain.

Value Creation Chain

The latest version of ITIL Continuous Improvement offers a flexible operating model for value creation. The service value chain defines six key activities:

• Plan
• Engage
• Design And Transition
• Obtain/Build
• Deliver and Support
• Improve

What differentiates the ITIL 4 Value Creation Chain from its predecessor in V3 is that the activities can be combined in different sequences so that it is possible for the organization to define variants that serve as a boost in the construction of added value. 

The previous system, on the other hand, consisted of thinking of the process as a static Life Cycle, making it less flexible to the constant changes of the digital world.

Focus on Practices

Unlike the 2012 version, ITIL 4 ‘s approach to management is more hands-on. 34 management practices distributed in sets of resources are included to achieve an objective in a holistic way.

Integration With Other Management Systems

The V4 approach seeks to be more flexible. Therefore, it includes practices for linking ITIL with other popular forms of IT resource management, such as Agile and DevOps. This provides the ability to keep up with the latest trends in software development.

Holistic Approach

The 2019 version defines itself as comprehensive. This is because, management practices, consider areas of the business environment such as culture, technology, information, business relations, and data management. 

To apply the characteristics of ITIL 4 and make the most of the proposal, it is best to have ITSM Management Software and Help Desk Software, which will allow you to configure and apply the ITIL elements throughout the IT system of your company.

In this way, the IT team can adapt its service management to issues related to the philosophy of the company and obtain a holistic vision of the ways of working. By doing this, ITIL 4 establishes itself as a comprehensive model for digital service management.