ITIL Implementation - Project Preparation

Infographic: How to prepare an ITIL project? ITIL implementation, step 1. — Infographic: How to prepare the ITIL project? - ITIL implementation, step 1.

Step 1: ITIL Project Preparation

Objectives

Before actually launching a project with the aim of introducing IT service management according to ITIL^®, the following conditions should be in place:

Key persons in charge of the project are familiar with the ITIL principles
A process management framework is in operation

Familiarization with the ITIL principles

As a preparation for any ITIL or ISO 20000 project, it is essential that the key players in the service provider organization familiarize themselves with the ITIL principles, so that they are in a position to communicate to all parties involved the benefits of IT service management best practice and to explain the steps required for its implementation.

In addition to this, a good knowledge of ITIL assists the key players to make efficient use of any required consulting services.

The following means lend oneself to get familiar with the ITIL domain:

ITIL books (see: resources)
ITIL seminars

The ITIL Process Map is also a valuable tool for getting acquainted with ITIL: A number of documents explain the ITIL principles. Process diagrams depict in an easily readable format how ITIL works, presenting both the big picture and the process details.

Establishing ITIL process management

Since ITIL projects are about designing and implementing a number of processes, it is also important at the beginning of such a project to establish the means for documenting and managing processes.

Acquiring an understanding of process management principles will be helpful in this respect. What is more, if the organization does not have a tool for documenting its business processes, the beginning of an ITIL project is a good opportunity for selecting one.

The ITIL Process Map is available for a number of platforms, including Microsoft Visio^® and the ARIS Process Platform™ by Software AG. Organizations using one of those applications are able to work with the ITIL process diagrams in their native format out-of-the-box.