Itil updates best practices for IT managers

Version 3 of the popular Itil framework for best practices in IT will cater for a wider variety of tasks

OGC to update Itil

More details of the next version of the popular IT Infrastructure Library (Itil) best-practice framework emerged last week, as the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) said it will add guidelines for improving IT governance and handling outsourcing partners.

The details came as the OGC began the tendering process for the publishing and accreditation franchises for the next version of Itil. The OGC is also preparing to assign authors to write sections of Itil version 3 early next year, said Philip Rushbrook, director for knowledge, innovation, standards and skills at the OGC. More than 50,000 people gained Itil certification last year.

Rushbrook said a beta of the new version is due in the summer before a December 2006 launch to coincide with the successful bidders taking over Itil’s accreditation and publishing services.

The framework’s structure will also change, with guidelines consolidated into five books on service design, introduction, support, delivery and improvement. Rushbrook said they would include advice on IT governance, controlling mobile technology and outsourced service management. “Users want their service management philosophy to change to accommodate technical advances,” he added.

IT service managers will also benefit from skills advice, said Institute of Service Management president Philip Montanaro. “Previous versions weren’t focused enough on the people involved with service management, so I’m pushing for the next version to offer guidance on what skills are required.”

However, opinion is divided on whether the guidelines should be more prescriptive. Ken Turbitt, Itil director at BMC Software, said an opportunity is being missed to make the framework stricter to improve clarity. But Rakesh Kumar of analyst Gartner said this view is biased as more prescriptive guidelines would make it easier for BMC and other vendors to map Itil onto their tools.

Flexible guidelines are central to Itil’s appeal, argued Montanaro. “There are nuances in any organisation which you can shape Itil around,” he added.