I find it genuinely encouraging to see how ITIL has evolved. With the value stream compartments now firmly in place it provides a solid framework that goes from strategy through conceptual design to service configuration. I am refreshing my mind on some concepts as a client has an IT component to some work I’ll probably take on. The good thing is that I can model value streams at an organisational level and then through ITIL. That works for me.
I always look for strategic context and links into organisation (roles, KPIs etc), processes and applications. That slides into ITIL very nicely now.
The challenge is funding the right tooling for each client. My tool of choice for organisation and process modelling is ADONIS, not the sister product ADO-IT is built on the ITIL framework and does not include BPMN process modelling. There are other tools that are able to capture the gamut of information but they are less usable for live workshop modelling. It’s the same paradigm as having a favourite ERP or CRM but making sure you are evaluating your client’s needs correctly and giving them the best match for them.
The ability to model a digital twin of your business has come a long way since I first used ProVision in 2003, which then was able to model all five Zachman perspectives across business, application and technology dimensions. It’s exciting to see the maturity that’s coming into some of the tools. I’ll be watching closely to see if they gain power without locking down to a framework to far and losing flexibility.
Being able to dynamically model organisation and processes is likely to always be my primary requirement. Adding the important layer of value streams and correlating problems and opportunities to who, how, what, where and when will likely be next in my mind.
Here’s a rather good Big Picture video on ITIL4.