Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Applying ITIL In Organizations

By Daniel Lonney


For those still starting in the I.T. field, ITIL may ring a bell. It stands for Information Technology Infrastructure Library, a group of concepts and practices for managing IT. It was established in the 1980s when the then-called Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA), now titled Office of Government Commerce (OGC), was instructed to create an approach for efficient and cost efficient use of IT resources. Their aim was to create an approach that is not dependent on any provider, which resulted in what we call now as ITIL.

The said approach is now being practiced for over 20 years around the world.

In a nutshell, the concept gives comprehensive account of IT practices that suits any IT organization. It offers a collective framework for all the activities of an IT section, of which activities are divided into procedures that provide framework to make the IT service more mature. Its approach identifies what must be included in IT Service Management to provide IT services needed.

The concept addresses 5 factors. The first is the business perspective. In this element, the concept focuses on areas like partnership and outsourcing, adapting the business to changes, business continuity management

Another factor is the IT infrastructure management, which deals with areas like computer installation and acceptance, systems and environmental management, network service and operations management, and management of local processors.

Another factor is application management, wherein ITIL stresses on software life cycle support and testing IT service of operational use.

The elements of service support and service delivery is called its core.

So why exercise it? Companies laud ITIL because of its cost-saving benefits. With it, the provisions of IT functions are more concentrated on the customers. The functions are also described as clearer, in a simpler to understand language, and in comprehensive details.

The IT organization also gains from ITIL in a way that they develop a clearer structure and become effective. It gives a constant frame of reference for communications within the organization and with suppliers likewise. With the system, systems become more centered on the corporate objectives as well.




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