[Blog] ITIL 4 - The 4th Industrial Revolution and how does it change the dimensions of ITSM
Axelos, the organization that manages the ITIL framework is in the process of releasing more modules to its latest version of the ITIL®, the acronym of Information Technology Infrastructure Library.
The newest version, named ITIL® 4, was released in February 2019. Leading up to and since that time, people have called it lots of different nomenclatures: ITIL Version 4, ITIL v4, ITIL4, and so on.
The newest version, named ITIL® 4, was released in February 2019. Leading up to and since that time, people have called it lots of different nomenclatures: ITIL Version 4, ITIL v4, ITIL4, and so on.
The correct designation for the newest version of ITIL is…."ITIL 4".
Why drop the ‘v’ from the name? There are two reasons:
1) Enough with the Versions already.
AXELOS made an intentional decision to get away from rolling out a new version name each time the books are updated.
Prior to ITIL 4, the framework used to be updated about once a decade. It required a huge effort to release a completely new version of the core books. However, that once-a-decade cadence is less than ideal, as the books run the very real risk of falling behind current trends of working if not updated frequently.
This is why “ITIL v4” isn’t a thing. With the start of the ITIL 4 project, AXELOS used a more agile approach and, going forward, will provide frequent updates (at a minimum, annually) to the content without updating the version number. The name “ITIL 4” is here to stay.
2) The 4th Industrial Revolution.
In today’s dynamic business environment, IT has become the core of almost every business globally. And for over two decades, ITIL processes have been the backbone for enterprises to maintain and improve IT Service Management as per business needs.
Since the last few years, ITIL has not evolved as per the business trends in software development and IT operations. Hence, the transition from ITIL V3 to ITIL 4 which infuses the latest best practices in the form of Agile, Lean, Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, DevOps and merges it with traditional ITIL best practices.
We now live in such a fast-paced and ever-changing world that both businesses and individuals need to be more agile, be constantly ready, and equipped with the right skills in order to compete and survive.
What is new and different in ITIL® 4
The Fourth Industrial Revolution is characterized by a range of new technologies in fields including robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, quantum computing, biotechnology, The Internet of Things (IoT), 3D printing, autonomous vehicles and more.
Though traditional ITIL still remains relevant in the ITIL® 4, the rise of the bots, AI and Intelligent Process Automation have played their part to ensure the future of IT Service Management has to be tweaked to address new market demands and opportunities and direct businesses into the new technological era.
The ITIL® 4 update is designed to provide a practical and flexible basis that will support organizations throughout their digital transformation while fusing the human, digital and physical resources in order to compete within the modern business world and to align their IT operation with the emerging technologies.
The key elements of ITIL 4 are the four dimensions, the guiding principles, the move from processes to practices, and the Service Value System, providing a holistic approach to the co-creation of value through service relationships.
The ITIL 4 Service Value System (SVS)
Sometimes it’s best to use the words “straight from the horse’s mouth” – AXELOS in this instance – with the ITIL 4 Foundation publication stating the following about the service value system:
“The ITIL SVS describes how all the components and activities of the organization work together as a system to enable value creation. Each organization’s SVS has interfaces with other organizations, forming an ecosystem that can, in turn, facilitate value for those organizations, their customers, and other stakeholders.”
Source: AXELOS, “ITIL Foundation: ITIL 4 Edition” (2019)
ITIL®4 depicts the four-dimension key elements which comprise of:
- Organizations and people: An organization needs a culture that supports its objectives, and the right level of capacity and competency among its workforce.
- Information and technology: In the SVS context, this includes the information and knowledge as well as the technologies required for the management of services.
- Partners and suppliers: This refers to an organization’s relationships with those other businesses that are involved in the design, deployment, delivery, support, and continual improvement of services.
- Value streams and processes: How the various parts of the organization work in an integrated and coordinated way is important to enable value creation through products and services.
It’s essential that an appropriate amount of focus is given to each of these dimensions so that the SVS remains balanced and effective.
To summarize, the release of ITIL® 4, promotes a holistic view of delivering products and services. It provides an opportunity for the current ITSM practitioners to gain new skills and practices from the worlds of DevOps and Agile. Thus, further extends IT and service operation to a new level and help organizations manage those services in the new, more complex world.