Granted ITIL is a framework and not a technology, but I just couldn’t stop laughing when I saw this cartoon.  With all the hype around ITIL 4 it would “seem” that as of Q1 2019, ITIL V3 will be considered outdated/dead, however, we don’t believe this to be the case.

Why Doesn’t ITIL 4 Kill ITIL V3?

For those of you who have individually or organizationally invested in the ITIL Framework via certifications and working in organizations that have adopted and adapted the ITIL Framework, you know ITIL is not something that gets adopted and adapted overnight nor is it something that gets updated overnight. If you run an IT organization that has adopted and adapted the IT Infrastructure framework, then you have trained your people, selected the practices from the framework that work for your group and integrated them into your organization with the end goal of delivering better, more efficient and higher quality services that enable the organization to be more effective and reduce costs.  It would make no sense to jump ship.

A Historical Look At Updates

Whenever an update is delivered, whether it be an operating system, language, standard or framework, it typically keeps the best of the current version and adds to it enhancements that bring new capabilities.  Some things stay the same, some things are modified for improvement and there are always new features.  In the case of ITIL 4, the goal, we are told, is to bring the ITIL framework into the digital age.  An age where it co-exists with Agile and DevOps and Lean, to name a few.

How Will ITIL 4 Enhance ITIL V3?

The current V3 framework has 26 processes. All very solid. If you have adopted and adapted some or all of them, they are in place and will remain in place.  The focus of ITIL 4 is to integrate ITIL with other relevant best practices like DevOps, Agile and Lean. The core elements of ITIL V3 are expected to remain the same in ITIL 4.

What Does This Mean to You or Are Your ITIL V3 Certificates Valid?

ITIL V3 is alive and well.  All ITIL V3 certifications are valid and well respected, AXELOS will continue V3 Certifications until at least June 2020. If your organization has adopted ITIL, then ITIL V3 courses, content and certifications are relevant. If you want to work for an organization that has adopted ITIL, then ITIL V3 courses, content and certifications are relevant. Bottom Line – ITIL V3 is here to stay. ITIL 4 builds on ITIL V3.

ITIL 4 Release

The release program for the new ITIL 4 certification will take some time.

• Foundation will be released Q1 2019; the first exams are due the end of February 2019
• The 6 advanced courses/certifications will begin releasing June 2020

How Do You Prepare?

We recommend that everyone in the ITIL V3 space either buy and read the AXELOS publication when it is released or take a course. Courses are available in self-paced, live online and classroom format. Everyone who is currently in an ITIL V3 shop will want to understand ITIL 4 as soon as possible. That understanding will allow you to start thinking about the new processes that are introduced in ITIL 4 in order to determine which ones and how to adapt them into your organization.

Who Should Get ITIL 4 Foundation Certified?

If you hold an ITIL V3 Foundation Certificate and have not gone on to the advanced certifications, then you will want to prepare and sit the ITIL 4 Foundation exam given by PeopleCert in 2019.  This will keep you on the cutting edge and in good stead in the job market.  Individuals who have taken advanced ITIL V3 Certifications do not need to get ITIL 4 Foundation Certified as there is an advanced transition module for ITIL V3 Certificate holders with 17 or more credits.  Now, it won’t hurt you to take the Foundation exam, just know it is not required.

Nothing Happens Overnight

Remember, nothing happens overnight. You didn’t get to the place you are now overnight, and you won’t adopt and adapt ITIL 4 overnight. Take all the time you need. When it is released, learn all about it. Make good decisions. Make a plan. Adopt and adapt accordingly.

I have been struggling with how to explain what the VeriSM™ Approach is and why anyone should care for some time now.  We have worked with Dr. Suzanne Van Hove for years.  We admire Suzanne and know that if she gets behind something that we need to take notice.  Suzanne is an educator and an expert…the real deal.  So why have I had such a hard time understanding why the VeriSM Approach was developed?

Why I Didn’t Understand

To be honest I think it was because I was too IT focused and did not understand the depth and breadth of the VeriSM Approach.  It started when Suzanne told me she wanted to produce the VeriSM courses.  I said sure and we did it.  Then I started to talking to my main audience, IT Professionals, and no one got it.  They all asked me, “why do we need VeriSM when we have ITIL, AGILE, DevOps, etc?”  Until now, I did not have an answer.  I knew that VeriSM did not replace ITIL or AGILE or DevOps, etc., but I could not explain the VeriSM Value Proposition.

The more I read the more I heard things like the VeriSM Approach is Service Management for the Digital Age.  Ok, that meant absolutely nothing to me.  Now I am a marketing and sales person and that is for sure a great marketing catch phrase, but I didn’t know what it meant.  Is the world almost completely digital these days?  Yes.  Does every department in and organization have a digital footprint?  Sure, but so what?  What is the VeriSM Approach and why should the C Suite, every department in an organization, yes every department…HR, Sales, Customer Service…and IT, care?  Why should they all learn what the VeriSM Approach is?  Why should they adopt the VeriSM Approach?  And why don’t they understand that VeriSM is not a replacement for anything?  Not ITIL. Not DevOps.  Not Agile.  Not COBIT.  Not any of the ISO Standards.

The Answer

After much study, attending the VeriSM Foundation course and asking a ton of questions I finally understood why so many people do not understand VeriSM.  The reason that VeriSM is not understood is that VeriSM is more than we have ever dreamed of.  We need to think outside of the box to understand it.  It is a wrapper.  It sits outside the pieces of the puzzle.  It is what allows the puzzle to go together seamlessly.  It is not a framework. It is not a standard.  It is the icing that holds the whole cake together.  It is what enables all the ingredients to work together and to create the best cake ever.

When you Google the word Verism the definition that pops up says, “Verism is the artistic preference of contemporary everyday subject matter instead of the heroic or legendary in art and literature; it is a form of realism. The word comes from Latin verus (true).”  And then it all came together for me.  The VeriSM Approach is truth.  It is a form a realism.  It is practical.  It is inclusive.

So What Is VeriSM?

VeriSM takes the successful service management approach that is second nature in IT organizations and transmits the service first mindset throughout the entire organization.  The result is a flexible and agile organization designed to meet and exceed customer expectations.  Loyal customers.  Agile Employees.  Profitable business and Success.  With VeriSM organizations will digitally transform themselves and be able to deliver products and services that meet and exceed customer requirements.

The VeriSM Approach, when applied, will build your organization into a flexible and well-oiled machine ready to deliver products and services in a way that exceed customer requirements, strengthens your position in the market place and establishes a loyal customer base.  It embraces your entire organization and sets  you up for success.

Can You Afford to Ignore VeriSM?  Probably Not.

If you answer YES to 1 or more of these questions, then learning more about what VeriSM can do for you and your organization is the next step.

• Do you want to deliver a better product or service?
• Do you want to create loyal customers?
• Do you want to have a more profitable business
• Do you want to succeed?

Thank you for allowing me to share my VeriSM Journey with you.  I hope my journey will prove helpful to you and your organization. Let me know your thoughts.  I look forward to hearing from you!

There has been a lot of talk about ITIL V4. Questions surrounding ITIL V4 include how it will affect current ITIL Certificate holders, when it will be released and what it will cover. In this blog we will address each of these questions.

What is ITIL V4?

The ITIL V4 update will address how ITIL works and co-exists with other practices such as DevOps, Agile and Lean. The core elements of ITIL are expected to remain the same.

How Will V4 Affect Current Certificate Holders?

If you currently hold ITIL Certificates or plan on getting them this year, all is good. All current certifications will be recognized.

When Will ITIL V4 Be Released?

Axelos announced that the first release of ITIL Version 4 will take place Q1 2019 (January to March 2019).

What Will Be Released?

It is expected that the first release will be ITIL Foundation. AXELOS has stated that the core material will remain and new materials on the integration of ITIL with DevOps, Agile and Lean will be added.

Do I Need To Hold Off On My ITIL Training?

If your organization uses ITIL or you are looking to have the right certifications to get your next job, getting ITIL Certified (Foundation, Practitioner, Intermediate or MALC) now is fine. As noted above, AXELOS is planning to add information to the current framework to bring it into a world where it operates with other practices like DevOps, Agile and Lean. The core framework will remain the same so if you need to get certified, you can do it now.

We will continue to bring you updates as they occur. If you have any questions, you can reach us at 877.546.4446 or customerservice@gogotraining.com.