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.

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!