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Rules: This offer may not be combined with otter offers. Offer is valid until May 31, 2023. All PeopleCert exam vouchers are valid for 1 year from the date of purchase. All exam voucher orders come with the Free Accredited corresponding GogoTraining ITIL course. Course access is for 90 days. You can request to start your course at anytime. Exam and Take2 discounts are based on PeopleCert’s list price found on the PeopleCert website.
By Jim Ragle
When preparing to take an IT-related certification exam, one needs to decide whether to self-study using free content found online or to pay for an accredited, on-demand training course specifically designed to prepare you for the relevant certification exam.
I’ve had to make this choice several times. And while I like to think of myself as resourceful and adept at filtering through online nonsense to find the good stuff, when it comes to certification exam prep it’s not worth the effort and risk to go it alone with free online content.
Choose the accredited training. You’ll get certified much easier and faster. Why?
First, let’s talk about the certification program content – the stuff that you will be tested on. For most certification programs, that content is copyrighted by the owner of the certification program. ITIL certification content, for example, is developed and maintained by Axelos, which is owned by PeopleCert. Axelos/PeopleCert protect their copyright, as any commercial company developing content would do. They make money by licensing that content to accredited training organizations and selling the certification (via an exam) to would-be practitioners like us. As such, non-accredited training programs that do not license the ITIL content from Axelos/PeopleCert are prohibited from using the copyrighted content in their training offerings.
So, how can a free, unaccredited ITIL training program do a good job of training you for the exam if they aren’t allowed to share with you the copyrighted ITIL principles, practices, and methodologies?
One way they try to get around this is to simply provide free (or even paid) “practice exams” or sets of test questions you can review. Just test questions and answers – no theory, no context, nothing taken from the copyrighted material (or not enough to raise any copyright issues). I’ve seen plenty of these free exam prep questions and they are often terribly written. Here are some issues I’ve repeatedly seen in free exam prep questions:
I’m not saying all the free exam prep content out there is bad. It probably isn’t. But how do you know if it’s good or bad if you don’t know the subject matter? After all, you are admittedly a beginner if you are seeking a training course in ITIL Foundation V4, for example.
If you have a lot of time and are willing to wade through an abundance of ad-supported sites offering free sample test questions and can spot the red-flag test questions as described earlier, then maybe it will work for you. However, you still have to pay for the certification exam, and there is a risk that you fail the exam and have to pay to retake it. Are you willing to take that risk?
I’d rather pay for an accredited training program and save the time, hassle, and significantly reduce the risk of failing the test. What you get when you select an accredited training program is the following:
When I was preparing to take the ITIL Foundation V4 exam, I reviewed some of the free content (mostly free mini quizzes) and quickly realized this was a minefield. After some research into accredited training programs, I chose the ITIL Foundation V4 training program offered by GogoTraining. The course is structured as a series of modules (all on-demand) that include video presentations with accompanying slides, delivered by Dr. Suzanne Van Hove, who is a seasoned expert in IT Service Management and ITIL. She brings vast, real-world Service Management experience to the training and does a fantastic job of adding context to the sometimes seemingly abstract concepts in ITIL. Even with this additional context, the presentations were quickly paced – fast enough that I didn’t feel like I was wasting time but slow enough to follow (also, you can always pause and go back). Dr. Hove’s delivery is enthusiastic and animated, which helped make the training interesting and engaging. Also, after every couple of modules, there are quizzes to gauge your progress and two full practice exams to take after finishing the course. All helpful. Most importantly, after taking the training, I immediately took the ITIL Foundation V4 certification exam and passed quite easily.
Accredited is the way to go, in my opinion. And GogoTraining worked great for me.
Please note: If you find a provider willing to sell you a full ITIL Foundation course without an exam voucher, it means that the course is not accredited so you don’t know if it is accurate. PeopleCert has a department that works to police unaccredited courses because they want to make sure that students have the highest possible success rate.
If you have questions, happy to help. Thank you, Marianne
I was talking to my good friend Corde Wager (ITIL 4 Managing Professional and all around good guy) today about how to explain the significance of the ITIL 4 Strategic Leader Program and he said:
“ITIL V3 showed us how to manage processes. With the growth of digital technology throughout the corporation and the advent of ITIL 4, organizations have to grow beyond processes and learn how to create successful digital direction for the entire organization and their customer base. To do this IT Leaders need to learn how to create and integrate a digital strategy. In addition, key managers and executives throughout the corporation need to be a part of this process. Technology is everywhere and this is just the beginning. Without an organizationally created and endorsed digital strategy, organizations will not see the future or be prepared for opportunities it offers.”
After I spoke to Corde, I received my weekly newsletter from Ian Sachs of Rick Resource that gives us the icing on the cake so to speak on the importance of becoming an ITIL 4 Strategic Leader. Make sure you don’t get left behind. I couldn’t have said it better (see below). Thank you Ian Sachs of Risk Resource.
Food for Thought: Projecting the Future
Many of the world’s most influential businesspeople and industry leaders failed to fully appreciate the capabilities of their own work while underestimating or misinterpreting the future. There is no better way to point this out than to consider some of the past century’s most prominent examples.
- 1893 – Postmaster General John Wanamaker stated that the U.S. mail would be delivered by stagecoach and horseback, even 100 years in the future.
- 1899 – Charles H. Duell, commissioner of the U.S. Office of Patents, said, “Everything that can be invented has been invented.”
- 1903 – The New York Times declared that flying machines were a waste of time just a week before the Wright brothers successfully flew their airplane at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
- 1927 – Harry M. Warner, one of the founders of Warner Brothers, remarked during the era of silent movies, “Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?”
- 1943 – Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, said “I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.”
- 2000 – John Antioco, CEO of Blockbuster, overlooked the capabilities of internet “streaming” and turned down an offer to buy Netflix for $50M. Blockbuster, the company that pioneered movie rentals, filed for bankruptcy in 2010.
As our society continues to course through exponential growth in technology, innovation, living standards, and of course, a pandemic, it’s important to remain prudent and to think through all possible outcomes and scenarios before turning down opportunities or accepting new ones. Leave your ego and stubbornness at the door and make room for more thoughts and opinions. Don’t be too quick to stick with comfortable decisions. History rewards those who were bold – the gamblers that bet on the future and not against it.
Don’t get left behind. To Learn More about the GogoTraining ITIL 4 Strategic Leader Program, Click Here.
To ready the full article by Ian Sachs, Click here
The ITIL 4 Strategic Leader Designation is an exciting Senior, Leader-Level, Certification. It is designed for professionals across all organizations who are involved in crafting digital vision and shaping IT and business strategy. When you achieve the Strategic Leader designation you will be a part of an exclusive group of professionals who hold the most valued ITIL 4 Leadership Certification.
Strategic Leader Requirements
The ITIL 4 Strategic Leader Certification is a true Leader-Level Certification. In order to achieve the Strategic Leader Certification candidates must:
Strategic Leader Courses
This program consists of 2 courses:
Strategic Leader Pathways
There are 3 ways to qualify to take the Digital & IT Strategy course which is required to become an ITIL 4 Strategic Leader.
Everyone who holds the ITIL 4 Managing Professional Transition Certification or who holds the ITIL Strategist Direct, Plan and Control Certification, may go straight to the Strategic Leader Course.
If this is you, then Click Here to take advantage of a Very Special LIFETIME Access Offer – Valid September 2020.
If you hold the ITIL 4 Foundation Certification you qualify to take the Direct, Plan and Improve course followed by the ITIL 4 Leader, Digital and IT Strategy.
If this is you, then Click Here to take advantage of a Very Special LIFETIME Access Offer – Valid September 2020.
If you hold the ITIL V3 Foundation Certificate or are NEW to ITIL, then you need to start with the ITIL 4 Foundation Course followed by DPI and DITS.
If this is you, then Click Here to take advantage of a Very Special LIFETIME Access Offer – Valid September 2020.
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In terms of differences, the main thing that I see is that the Tesla hit the market fully ready to drive whereas the AXELOS release of ITIL 4 is taking more than a year. The Foundation course was released and then Managing Professional Transition for people with a strong ITIL V3 background. However, for others wanting more information to understand how to adopt and adapt ITIL 4 into their organizations, we are just now getting the details and it will not be fully released until the second half of 2020.
ITIL 4 Tracks
ITIL 4 has two tracks: Managing Professional and Strategic Leader. The full four Managing Professional courses are now released, and we expect the standard updates to the syllabuses to take place over the next several months. This is a common practice. Can you take the MP courses now? Sure. Will there be changes that take place over the next few months? Almost certainly. The Managing Professional Transition course has been available for six months and we received several syllabus updates over that time. The four full Managing Professional courses are new and for sure, will receive syllabus updates over the next several months. Can you get started now? Absolutely. Make sure you stay on top of the syllabus updates. The other path is Strategic Leader and it is expected to be released second half of 2020.
Where to Begin
Both tracks begin with ITIL 4 Foundation which is designed as an introduction to ITIL 4. If you are new to ITIL or interested in taking your organization from V3 to 4, then ITIL 4 sets a good foundation. The Managing Professional track is designed for IT Practitioner and provides the knowledge needed for individuals running IT projects, teams and workflows. The Strategic Leader track takes ITIL beyond IT operations into digitally enabled services across the organization. The class is currently under development. As soon as we know more, we will let you know.
Why Get Started Now?
All updates have features that are designed to enhance performance so now is a good time to explore how to improve organizational performance. A good way to do that is the ITIL 4 Foundation course and the Managing Professional Transition course. Foundation is perfect if you are new to ITIL or just want to get an overview. Managing Professional Transition is designed for the more experienced ITIL V3 professional. If you have 15 or more ITIL V3 credits, this is the way to go. If you are somewhere between Foundation and 15 V3 credits, you have several options:
Which path makes the most sense?
If you work for an organization that has adopted and adapted ITIL V3, then that is the route to go. If you are new to ITIL and want to get a good foundation in ITIL, then taking both V3 and the ITIL 4 Foundation certifications makes sense. If you have some V3 credits and want the most cost effective solution, then getting your 15 to 17 V3 credits is most economical.
Would you like some help determining which path is best?
As ITIL 4 comes into full swing you may be asking yourself – it is time to get started and if so, what path should I take? At GogoTraining we offer a free training plans service for individuals and organizations. If you are wondering what the best path is for you or how to get your organization up to speed flexibly and cost effectively, Contact Us and Tell Us Where You Are At. Our experts have over 30 years of experience in all training methodologies (classroom, live online and eLearning) and are here to help you. EXTRA Bonus: Everyone who contacts us will receive a $100 off one ITIL Exam.
We are standing by to help. Contact us by email or call us at, 877.546.4446
VeriSM™ and ITIL®4 are very different. It’s the same story as any other question of how VeriSM differs from ITIL, COBIT®, IT4IT®, ISO/IEC 20000, etc. VeriSM isn’t a standard, methodology, or framework, but rather an operating model. ITIL, 20K, COBIT, etc. all are process (practice) driven standards, methodologies, or frameworks.
VeriSM recognizes that all the various standards, frameworks, methodologies have a different emphasis. What VeriSM points to is that depending on the requirements, the appropriate methodology should be used be it ITIL, COBIT, Agile, Lean, etc. VeriSM expands the service management philosophy across the enterprise.
ITIL still is focused in the technology area even though it’s putting forth practices around workforce and talent management, project management, and business analysis – it’s trying to take the enterprise step but it’s not quite there yet (note: there is still information not yet released and therefore a full judgement can’t be made). ITIL 4 states that it is incorporating Lean, Agile, DevOps into its practices (processes) and operating models. That may well be true, but there is a lot of altering of the methodologies in order to ‘fit’ the ITIL principles.
VeriSM is an operating model; ITIL, et al are all players within that operating model. VeriSM is the only service management philosophy that is truly neutral and non-biased. The operating model clearly states to use whatever framework, methodology, or standard that is most appropriate for the consumer requirements, organizational capabilities, and the mission/goals of the organization. Lastly, as with any of the management practices, ITIL is just one strand of the mesh (key concept in VeriSM) and it is up the organization to populate that mesh with the practices, disruptive technologies, resources and environment that accurately reflect the organization.
To learn more about VeriSM, Click Here. To learn more about ITIL 4, Click Here.
At GogoTraining our students get to ask the instructor’s questions while they train, and we wanted to share a great student question on ITIL 4 Foundation and the caliber of answer students can expect to receive. Suzanne brings the classroom to life online by going the extra mile and fully and completely answering their questions just as though they were in the classroom. Kudos, Suzanne!
The student asked:
Hello Suzanne, Many thanks your great and easy to follow class. I have a question in ITIL 4 Foundation course module “Start Where You Are”. You have a great example of the check-out person who took a personal interest in your discussion while she was checking out your items but received a bad score because the system graded her on speed of checking out. Your last bullet states “good measurements shouldn’t influence behavior”. If that is the case, what should it influence? I’ve studied all types of businesses that say you should inspect what you expect. Tying bonuses and commissions to behavior based outcomes is what I’ve been trained to do, so this concept is a very new one for me. Can you please elaborate? Thanks.
Dr. Van Hove Answered:
Thank you for your kind words. You have a great question — good measures should measure the qualities the organization has deemed important, and in the case of this check-out person, she demonstrated “intelligent disobedience” (a new term in the Managing Professional materials). It was appropriate that she ignore the metrics because she improved the customer experience. What annoyed me in this scenario, was that there wasn’t a compensation for that action. The other side of the coin is when workers only work to achieve the metrics (resolve calls in 90 seconds) and they don’t do their job but rather perform to the metric because it is tied to pay/rewards, etc… That is a BAD metric and that is what we are trying to avoid. So, the point is that metrics should reflect the business and consumer requirements, they should be known to the staff as targets to be achieved, but they shouldn’t be written where common sense, customer experience (and for that matter, employee experience) be ignored, frivolously attended to, etc. Bonuses and commissions are directly tied to individual performance to the OVERALL ACHIEVEMENT of the organization and I believe that is a bit different that my example. The bullet, to be clear, means we don’t want the metric to **become the behavior** but rather the metric measures the desired service component. I hope that makes more sense. Thanks for the question — enjoy the rest of the course and good luck on the exam! Cheers! Suzanne