You might first ask yourself, what is ITIL. Information Technology Infrastructure Library is a set of best practices standards for Information Technology (IT) service management. The United Kingdom’s Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA) created ITIL in response to the growing dependence on Information Technology to meet business needs and goals. ITIL provides businesses with a customizable framework of best practices to achieve quality service and overcome difficulties associated with the growth of IT systems. ITIL is organized into sets of texts which are defined by related functions: service support, service delivery, managerial, software support, computer operations, security management, and environmental. Since it’s beginning, ITIL management has transferred from the CCTA to the OGC (Office of Government Commerce) and ITIL Certification is currently available to individuals.
A series of easy processes that can fit into any sized organizations structure, ITIL assists with the consolidated management of multiple process driven functions that are normally managed separately. While it hasn?t caught on as widely in the United States as it has in Europe and Asia, American Corporations are starting to take a hard look at ITIL and it’s series of certifications for future incorporation into their current IT Departments and service contracts.
I hope we start seeing a more vigorous acceptance of ITIL within American Businesses, this magnificent additional resource in IT Departments would standardize many areas of great interest in IT Services and Program Management today. Additional information can be located at the official ITIL Web Site in the UK: http://www.ogc.gov.uk/index.asp?id=2261
