ITIL® is the most popular ITSM methodology in the world. One of the main reasons behind its success was its flexibility and adaptability. It was developed by the British government's Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA) in the 1980s, but it is now owned, managed, updated, and certified by AXELOS.
Last year, AXELOS announced its latest version, ITIL® V4. It was released in the first quarter of 2019, around February. The prime focus was on combining the most efficient ITIL® practices around the world with the ITIL® guidelines.
The reason why the latest version is considered to be the best as it has been developed by a team of over 150 professionals which includes content writers, IT professionals, and a newly developed group. This group has more than 2000 members who have served in very large organizations worldwide. Their feedback has been taken into consideration to make sure that this version overcomes any limitations which its predecessors may have faced.
Introduction to ITIL®
In order to regulate the IT services with the needs of the business, ITIL® was introduced. It is a set of rules and methodologies which consist of the best practices developed over the years in the business industry. The ITIL® V3 (or ITIL® 2011) which turned out to be the most popular version is based on 5 fundamentals -
- ITIL® Service Strategy
- ITIL® Service Design
- ITIL® Service Transition
- ITIL® Service Operation
- ITIL® Continual Service Improvement
For many years, ITIL® V3 ruled the industry because of its wide application. Even though it was one of the best-selling and globally-adopted versions, to adapt to the new changes in the industry, AXELOS came up with the latest version - ITIL® V4.
What is ITIL® V4?
The structure of the latest version has been enhanced to manage business companies to request new service management challenges. They also support them efficiently by applying modern technology to its highest ability. Versatility, integration, and organized systems have been given prime importance while composing this version.
This methodology can be adjusted and embraced by different types of business to provide the best service and heighten customer experience. This will guide them in not only discussing management challenges but also solving them. It also supervises maturing the concepts so that the organization or the candidate can practically apply them to their daily obstacles and deal with them adequately. ITIL® V4 will also assist in governing as well as managing every possible IT-enabled service.
ITIL® V4 is the new revamped version for ITSM to combine modern technology in a more holistic manner. This step was taken to give the best possible outcome from all the resources available.
The target audience ranges from students to professionals aiming to get acquainted with the new updates. This is coined to be a huge development as it is not only working on the drawbacks of the earlier versions but is also aiming to get the most powerful methods to promote the business industry.
Major elements of ITIL® V4
ITIL® SVS or ITIL® Service Value System is one of the principal components of the updates in ITIL® V4. It represents how the different projects and elements of the organization operate collectively to encourage value creation by IT-enabled services.
The different features of SVS can be implanted in such a way that it doesn't cause any stress over the organization. This makes it very pliable to adapt. Both the qualities, coordination as well as absorption are needed to keep the organization growing at a constant pace. This helps the system to drive the organization in an instrumental, visionary, and unified direction.
ITIL® SVS majorly focuses on these components -
- ITIL® service value chain
- ITIL® guiding principles
- ITIL® practices
- Governance
- Constant growth
The ITIL® service value chain demonstrates a working model for the creation, execution, and steady growth of the services. The design consists of 6 chief elements that can be connected synchronically using numerous ways hence creating distinct value streams. To approach the requirements of multimodal service management, the value chain is made flexible enough to be easily adapted through various procedures like centralized IT and DevOps. It is this flexibility that enables the company to concentrate on the steady growth as well as to satisfy the ever-changing interests of the industry.
ITIL® practices support in developing the service value chain by extending their flexibility. To support ITSM practitioners with a complete toolset, all ITIL® practice supports multiple service value chain activities.
An organization’s performance and fundamental core heavily represent its growth. This is why the ITIL® guiding principles are executed as they aid in building a fruitful environment through daily activities. They also ensure that everyone in their organization are on the same page and is working towards achieving a unified vision.
The governing body oversees and shares some specific guidelines and tactics with the organization to improve results. The governance also helps in improving coordination among the divisions of the company and hence raising the company’s value.
Why ITIL® V4?
The most important reason for developing an advanced version of the ITIL® V3 was because of its certain limitations. These are -
- Failure to comprehend the current trends in the IT services and software developments.
- Bad relationship with the ITSM Community
The latest version addressed these issues by publishing the updates in the community, thus giving them a heads-up and possibly eliminating any obstacle in the free flow of data. ITIL® V4 has successfully combined the concepts of Agile, DevOps, and Lean with that of the standard ITIL® practices. This makes the new version flexible and keeps it updated for the future.
Apart from this, the foundation stage is completely revised to give students and professionals a clear inside view from the very beginning.
It is revised based on the needs of modern business. The revisions of the ITIL® V4 are completely practical and are based on the feedback of thousands of ITIL® practitioners.
The significant variations which can be witnessed in ITIL® V4 are-
- Fewer siloes
- Information across the whole business
- More alliance
- Combining Agile and DevOps within ITSM policies.
This update has made the ITIL® way more agile, extensible, and collaborative.
Principles of ITIL® V4
Right from the beginning, ITIL® has always followed certain principles. Similarly, like its predecessors, ITIL® 4 is built upon nine guiding principles. These were borrowed from the most contemporary ITIL® Practitioner Exam.
The most fascinating progression of the newer version is that it encourages the alliance of IT department with other departments.
This is not only profitable but highly effective too due to the arrival of new technologies and most of the departments depend on it to get their work done. ITIL® V4 works according to the need of public perception and needs. Because of this, customer feedback and satisfaction are top priorities for the new version.
ITIL® V4 certification levels
There have been certain updates in the certification level in the new version. Before proceeding to those upgrades, let's take a look at the previous version.
The previous version of the ITIL® V3 was divided into 5 levels -
- Foundation
- Practitioner
- Intermediate
- Expert
- Master.
Master was the highest level and the foundation was for beginners. With each stage, the depth of understanding of the subject increases.
There has been an update in the new scheme of the ITIL® V4. Now, there has been an inclusion of ITIL® Foundation and the ITIL® Master exams.
Below are the four certification levels within the ITIL 4 scheme:
- Foundation
- Managing Professional
- Strategic Leader
- Master.
After the foundation level are the levels of Strategic Leader and Managing Professional. Both of them have their own modules and exams.
ITIL® Managing Professional (MP)
ITIL® Managing Professional (MP) is designed for learners who deal with technology and digital teams throughout the organization. They are not just limited to the IT departments. This course offers experience and expertise to run successful teams, IT projects, and workflows.
Modules cover ‘ITIL® Specialists’ in -
- Drive Stakeholder Value
- Create, Deliver and Support
- High Velocity IT
| ITIL® Master
|
|---|
Managing
Professional
Transition | ITIL® Managing Professional | ITIL® Strategic Leader
|
| ITIL®
Specialist | ITIL®
Specialist | ITIL®
Specialist | ITIL®
Strategis | ITIL®
Strategist | ITIL® Leader |
| Create,
deliver and
support | Drive
Stakeholder
Value | High
Velocity
IT | Direct.
Plan and
Improve | Direct.
Plan and
Improve | Digital & IT
Strategy |
| ITIL® Foundation |
ITIL® Strategic Leader (SL)
This exam is designed for those who engage with “every digitally equipped assistance”. The objective of this ITIL course is to prepare the learner on how to use technology to deliver business procedure. It also explains the role of IT in this process.
Syllabus includes -
- ITIL® Leader – Digital & IT Strategy
- ITIL® Strategist – Direct, Plan, and Improve
Both of these exams end at the same level which is the ITIL® Master exam. It is the most advanced level in the examination.
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How to do the transition from ITIL® V3 to ITIL® V4?
It is known that ITIL® V3 is the most popular version. Also, the certification is valid forever once you acquire the credentials in your resume. The ITIL® V3 is flexible, which is the reason why it is globally accepted. However, after the release of the new version, many will think of upgrading their certifications. AXELOS has defined paths to upgrade your ITIL® V3 certifications to corresponding ITIL® V4 certificates.
There are numerous ways to get the transition done. Following are the various transition paths -
ITIL® V3 Foundation certified
- Since this is the beginning level, it is advised that the student takes up the ITIL® V4 foundation. The reason being that the foundation process of the ITIL® V4 has witnessed maximum changes.
- Transition in the early path will be beneficial as the learner will be well versed with the new contents of the latest certification. Also, the material on ITIL® V4 Foundation is vast and hence, it's a great opportunity for the learners to get to know new methods and techniques that are updated and as per current business trends.
ITIL® Practitioner/Intermediate level
- AXELOS doesn't want the learners to waste their time and efforts, therefore if an individual is on the Practitioner or Intermediate level, it is advisable to continue pursuing the current level.
- Once they have achieved 17 credits, they are eligible for the easy transition to ITIL® 4 and take ITIL® Managing Professional Transition module. This will allow them to earn the ITIL® Managing Professional designation.
ITIL® V3 Expert
- Those who have successfully made it to the Expert level can pursue the ITIL® Managing Professional Transition module, provided, they have received the certification.
- After acquiring the ITIL® Managing Professional designation, one can pursue the ITIL® Strategic Leader stream. This is completely based on the interest of the person. Fulfillment of either of the streams will lead the student straight to the final level, ITIL® Master.
We have briefly summarised the paths into a table for your reference.
ITIL® V3 Certificate
| The path for transition to V4 |
|---|
| ITIL® V3 Foundation | Acquire ITIL® V4 Foundation certificate |
| ITIL® V3 Practitioner | 1. Begin from ITIL® V4 Foundation
2. Continue with the ITIL® V3 modules till intermediate and make a transition to MP under V4. |
| ITIL® V3 Intermediate | Being a V3 intermediate, you can make a transition to V4 by taking up the modules under V4 MP.
You don't have to go ahead with the MALC exam. |
| ITIL® V3 Expert | If you're a V3 Expert, you need to take the V4 MP in order to make a transition to V4 in order to continue with your ITIL® journey. |
ITIL® V3 Vs. ITIL® V4
There is one common question regarding ITIL®, as to how exactly ITIL® V4 and V3 are different from each other.
- ITIL® V3 was introduced in 2007. The version was revised with some changes four years later in 2011.
- Whereas AXELOS recently announced the completion of the latest version of the ITIL® V4. The first level of the newer version was released early in 2019 and the higher levels are scheduled to release in the second half of the year.
The ITIL® 4 is built upon nine guiding principles. These were borrowed from the most contemporary ITIL® Practitioner Exam.
The nine principles are:
- Device for knowledge
- Concentrate on content
- Explore holistically
- Commence where you are
- Study directly
- Develop iteratively
- Associate
- Be fair
- Keep it simple
ITIL® V4 works according to public perception and needs. Because of this, customer feedback and satisfaction are top priorities for the new version.
In addition to these principles, the ITIL® V4 has major updates like:
- Outstanding integration besides other successful ITSM practices, including DevOps, Agile, and Lean
- A broader focus on the meaning of customer experience
- The superior combination of ITIL® and modern business practices
- A community-driven focus to render the framework extra flexible and powerful
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Other major updates in ITIL® V4
The objective of the new version is to focus on the practical aspects of the business. The course has been kept as compliant as possible to assist the organizations towards being larger, developed and united service providers.
The Service Value System (SVS) has also been gradually updated. It now gives a whole end-to-end scenario of what's occurring behind the scenes during the business transactions. This enables the students to gain a sound knowledge and contribute more to the process.
A notable challenge was not to make the ITIL® V4 totally independent from its previous versions. This will create chaos in the system between the ITIL® V4 and the ITIL® V3 certified professionals. Keeping this in mind, the version has been designed to have better compatibility with the ITIL® V3.
ITIL® V4 owns many of the underlying factors of the V3 as they assist the organizations in implementing efficient IT service management.
Conclusively, the brand-new version is developed to meet the ever-growing demands of the digital environment. ITIL® V4 has been developed to provide a practical and flexible basis from the current complex digital environment.
