ITIL is a framework that describes several processes that are systematized around service lifecycle stages. The objective behind these ITIL processes is to apply key principles that allow the achievement of a common goal.
These five service lifecycle stages include:
For example, the Service Strategy stage is comprised of the following processes: Strategy Management for IT Services, Service Portfolio Management, Financial Management for IT Services, Demand Management, and Business Relationship Management.
If we take the example of the Financial Management for IT Services process, its objective is to manage the service providers accounting budgeting and charging requirements.
Even with such an intricate constitution of lifecycle stages and their processes, one would assume that to adopt ITIL means to implement all its processes to the letter. It is, however, essential to understand that this is not necessarily the case. In fact, organizations (both large, small and everything in-between), that wish to adopt ITIL, often need to adapt its guidelines to their specific needs and their specific circumstances. Professionals who have achieved an ITIL foundation certification can prove to be beneficial for such organizations.
Benefits of the ITIL framework
The benefits of ITIL are not just directed towards improving information technology services but also extend to cover business issues and compliance issues as well. The framework is widely used by large and small organizations alike, across a wide range of industries. This means that there is an active community of experts and resources available to assist whenever necessary. Some of the other additional benefits of ITIL are as follows:
Organization size does not matter for ITIL adoption
With so many large organizations using ITIL, one can be tempted into thinking that ITIL is only used by large organizations. This assumption is further compounded by the fact that for a long time ITIL was mostly referenced in the context of large organizations. Furthermore, small organizations have inherently different structures which implies that there will need to be some adaptation in the implementation of ITIL for small organizations as compared to much larger ones.
Here are a few of the differences between small and large organizations with regards to ITIL:
Even with all these differences and the tendency for a ‘large organization only’ narrative, size does not really matter when it comes to the adoption of ITIL. Small organizations can have the upper hand when it comes to implementing ITIL in some cases.
For example, small organizations tend to have fewer people which means that there tends to be less disagreement. An effect of this advantage is that ITIL can be implemented a lot faster in a small organization. These small organizations can hire professionals who are experienced in implementing ITIL and have proven their abilities through the ITIL Foundation certification.
As for the resource deficit that is often associated with small organizations, the key to successfully implementing ITIL is in thoroughly understanding the principles and ideas behind it so that it is easier to make informed decisions about which specific processes address which specific needs. More importantly, when small organizations understand ITIL, they can adopt the parts that are useful to solve real problems or challenges that they have.
How small organizations can adopt the ITIL framework
Below are a few ways that ITIL can help small organizations to reach their short-term and long-term objectives:
Conclusion: key takeaways
To implement ITIL for a small organization, it is essential to keep these key points in mind: