An Introduction to the ITIL 4 Framework
Learning Objectives
This introductory module gives a complete overview of the ITIL 4 Framework, the evolution of ITIL 4 and best practices, and an introduction to the ITIL 4 certification structure.
The areas covered include:
Introduction to ITIL 4
ITIL 4 Evolution
ITIL 4 Best Practices
ITIL 4 Certification Scheme
ITIL v3 and ITIL 4
Purpose of the ITIL Foundation Qualification
Who Benefits from the Course
Case Study
The Key Concepts of Service Management
Learning Objectives
This module will introduce you to the key concepts and terminology of ITIL. The concepts are relevant for all services and service relationships, regardless of their nature and underpinning technology. The concepts include:
The nature of value and value co-creation
Organizations, service providers, service consumers and other stakeholders
Products and services
Service relationships
Value: outcomes, costs and risks
You will then learn how they can be used to address real-world IT service management challenges.
Chapter 1: Key Definitions
Chapter 2: Creating Value with Services
Chapter 3: Key Concepts of Service Relationships
Quiz & Assignment
The Guiding Principles
Learning Objectives
‘Guiding principles’ are recommendations which can guide organizations in any given circumstance, regardless of any changes made to its goals, strategies, type of work or management structure.
ITIL’s guiding principles form the core messages of the framework, as well as ITSM in general. They are designed to support successful actions and good decisions, and can even help users to adapt ITIL to suit their own circumstances.
Many of ITIL 4’s guiding principles reflect those found in other frameworks, standards and methodologies. These include Lean, Agile, COBIT and DevOps. This allows organizations to easily integrate ITIL 4 into their current service management approach.
These principles are applicable to virtually any initiative or stakeholder group relationship. Most importantly, ITIL’s guiding principles encourage and support organizations in pursuing continual improvement at all levels.
The ITIL 4 Guiding Principles include:
Focus on value
Start where you are
Progress iteratively with feedback
Collaborate and promote visibility
Think and work holistically
Keep it simple and practical
Optimize and automate
This module will introduce you to ITIL’s Guiding Principles, as well as their purpose, flexibility and relationship with other standards and frameworks.
The Four Dimensions of Service Management
Learning Objectives
The four dimensions of service management offered by ITIL 4 provide a holistic view of the different constraints, resource types and other points of focus which must be considered when designing, managing or operating an organization.
They include:
Organizations and people
Information and technology
Partners and suppliers
Value streams and processes
By approaching any problems and developments from the perspective of each dimension individually, organizations can ensure that their Service Value System (SVS) is both balanced and effective.
This module will provide you with a clear understanding of the four dimensions of service management outlined in the ITIL 4 syllabus, and how they enable a holistic approach to ITSM.
Service Value System (SVS)
Learning Objectives
The ITIL 4 SVS describes the different inputs (opportunity and demand), elements (organizational governance, service management, continual improvement and an organization’s capabilities and resources) and outputs (achievement of organizational objectives and resultant value for the organization and its stakeholders) of effective service management.
The ITIL SVS includes:
The guiding principles
Governance
Service value chain
Practices
Continual improvement
In this module, you will examine how these factors work together within a system in order to create value for connected organizations, as well as their customers and other stakeholders.
The Service Value Chain
Learning Objectives
The ITIL Service Value Chain (SVC) is a core component of the SVS. IT offers an operating model for creating, delivering and continually improving services. It consists of six activities which can be combined in a number of different ways to create flexible value streams. The SVS can also accommodate different approaches, including DevOps.
This flexibility enables users to adapt services in order to meet changing demands as effectively and efficiently as possible. SVS activities are supported by ITIL practices, creating a highly versatile tool for ITSM.
This module will introduce you to the SVS and how it can be used and adapted to manage different products and services.
Practice: Purpose and Key Terms
Learning Objectives
This module covers the 18 ITIL 4 Practices. Students will learn the purpose and description of activities for each practice, as well as their place in the Service Value Chain.
The 18 ITIL 4 practices include:
Continual Improvement
Information Security Management
Relationship Management
Supplier Management
Availability Management
Capacity and Performance Management
Change Control
Incident Management
IT Asset Management
Monitoring and Event Management
Problem Management
Release Management
Service Configuration Management
Service Continuity Management
Service Desk
Service Level Management
Service Request Management
Deployment Management
The syllabus requires that students be able to recall the purpose of each practice. We will go into more detail on the 7 most essential practices in the next module.
Understanding the 7 ITIL Practices
Learning Objectives
The 7 ITIL practices can be used to support multiple service value chain activities. Together, they offer practitioners a versatile yet highly comprehensive toolset for approaching ITSM. They include:
Chapter 1: Continual Improvement
Chapter 2: Change Control
Chapter 3: Incident Management
Chapter 4: Problem Management
Chapter 5: Service Request Management
Chapter 6: The Service Desk
Chapter 7: Service Level Management
Quiz & Assignment
This module will provide you with a clear understanding of the 7 ITIL practices, their importance and their relationship the ITIL Service Value Chain.
Learning Objectives
Practice exam
These practice exams are designed to simulate the conditions that students will face when taking the official ITIL 4 Foundation examination. It will be well worth testing your knowledge on ITIL 4 before booking your exam, as it will give you the chance to highlight and revise any modules which you have been struggling with.