Problem Management
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The objective of ITIL Problem Management is to manage the lifecycle of all Problems. The primary objectives of Problem Management are to prevent Incidents from happening, and to minimize the impact of incidents that cannot be prevented. Proactive Problem Management analyzes Incident Records, and uses data collected by other IT Service Management processes to identify trends or significant Problems.
Part of: Service Operation
Process Owner: Problem Manager
ITIL Problem Management
Problem Management Process
Essentially, the activities and process objectives of ITIL Problem Management are identical in ITIL V3 and ITIL V2.
A new sub-process "Major Problem Review" was introduced to review the solution history of major Problems in order to prevent a recurrence and learn lessons for the future.
These are the ITIL Problem Management sub-processes:
- Problem Identification and Categorization
- Process Objective: To record and prioritize the Problem with appropriate diligence, in order to facilitate a swift and effective resolution.
- Problem Diagnosis and Resolution
- Process Objective: To identify the underlying root cause of a Problem and initiate the most appropriate and economical Problem solution. If possible, a temporary Workaround is supplied.
- ">Problem and Error Control
- Process Objective: To constantly monitor outstanding Problems with regards to their processing status, so that where necessary corrective measures may be introduced.
- Problem Closure and Evaluation
- Process Objective: To ensure that - after a successful Problem solution - the Problem Record contains a full historical description, and that related Known Error Records are updated.
- Major Problem Review
- Process Objective: To review the resolution of a Problem in order to prevent recurrence and learn any lessons for the future. Furthermore it is to be verified whether the Problems marked as closed have actually been eliminated.
- Problem Management Reporting
- Process Objective: ITIL Problem Management Reporting aims to ensure that the other Service Management processes as well as IT Management are informed of outstanding Problems, their processing-status and existing Workarounds (see "Problem Management Report").
ITIL Terms
- Known Error
- A problem that has a documented root cause and a workaround. Known Errors are created and managed throughout their lifecycle by Problem Management. Known Errors may also be identified by development or suppliers.
- Known Error Database
- The Known Error Database (KEDB) is created by Problem Management and used by Incident and Problem Management to manage all Known Error Records.
- Problem
- A cause of one or more Incidents. The cause is not usually known at the time a Problem Record is created.
- Problem Management Report
- A report supplying Problem-related information to the other Service Management processes.
- Problem Record
- The Problem Record contains all details of a Problem, documenting the history of the Problem from detection to resolution (see: ITIL Checklist Problem Record).
- Suggested new Known Error
- A suggestion to create a new entry in the Known Error Database, for example raised by the Service Desk or by Release Management. Known Errors are managed throughout their lifecycle by Problem Management.
- Suggested Problem
- A notification about a suspected Problem, handed over to Problem Management for further investigation.
- Suggested new Workaround
- A suggestion to enter a new Workaround in the Known Error Database, for example raised by the Service Desk or by Release Management. Workarounds are managed throughout their lifecycle by Problem Management.
- Workaround
- Reducing or eliminating the impact of an Incident or Problem for which a full resolution is not yet available, for example by restarting a failed Configuration Item. Workarounds for Problems are documented in Known Error records.
Checklists | KPIs
ITIL Roles
- Problem Manager - Process Owner
- The Problem Manager is responsible for managing the lifecycle of all Problems.
- His primary objectives are to prevent Incidents from happening, and to minimize the impact of Incidents that cannot be prevented.
- To this purpose he maintains information about Known Errors and Workarounds.
Downloads
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Use the following links to open the process overview of Problem Management showing the most important interfaces: |
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