The
increased business reliability on IT demands that computer systems
are available and providing the levels of service required to
enable the business to compete in today's market place.
IT
Service Management is the key to achieving this fundamental standard,
delivering a reliable, cost effective, quality service to the
customer for the benefit of the business.
Every
member of the IT department has a role to play in the provision
of IT services to their customers. This responsibility is more
acceptable if the staff acknowledge the disciplines of service
management and fully appreciate why they have been implemented.
Although
the UK Government originally created the ITIL, it was rapidly
adopted across Europe as the standard for best practice in the
provision of IT Service. Although the ITIL covers a number of
areas, its main focus is on IT Service Management.
IT
Service Management (ITSM) itself is divided into two main areas,
Service Support and Service Delivery. Together, these two areas
consist of 10 disciplines that are responsible for the provision
and management of effective IT.
Service
Support is the practice of those disciplines that enable IT Services
to be provided effectively.
Service
Delivery is the management of the IT services themselves, and
involves a number of management practices to ensure that IT services
are provided as agreed between the Service Provider and the Customer.