ITIL Quick Start

[Yentl]

Hi, I heard that there is something out there called "ITIL Quick Start" and it is the implementation of the best practices but for SME's (Small and Mediumsize Enterprises).

Can anyone tell me if this is truth, is it actually a difference in ITIL's implementation depending of the size compay??

Thanks in advance.

[Toshi]

Hello Yentl !

I've heard quick start of itil at HP ITIL conference, but I don't know it's really same as you said.
In general, ITIL is IT operation management policy, the amount of implementation is depend on the amount of data to be managed rather than company scale.
You should focus on IT service, not company.I guess.

Thanks,
Toshi

[rjp]

There are two things to be careful of when considering implementing the ITIL framework:

1) The Toolset approach. What implementing the ITIL is about is implementing the processes you use to get IT work done in a business. It isn't about tools per se. All the ITIL products over ways of recording and tracking, controlling and monitoring IT service activity. They are effectively workflow and process automation software. And if you don't know what your processes are, how are you going to automate them?

Even the best tools on the market are no shortcut to ITIL compliance. Hence the arrival, hot on their heels, of a new wave of ITIL consultancy services, which leads me to number...

2) Consultancy skills are a necessary add on to tools, and all the big companies have been switching from selling 'products' to sellling 'solutions' which are 'products' plus 'consulting'. Which is a good thing - but - they need to differentiate themselves in a market space that is now characterised by a lot of pain. There are any number of people now who have been through less than successful implementations, or who have heard of them and are wary of the time, cost, and pain they perceive to be involved. So many consultants are selling their services as ITIL-Painless.

Can you believe them - how long is a piece of string? There is where your company is, and where it wants to go to and what is is williing to go through to get there. That is the real vaqriable, and I don't believe there are any consultants that can pre-sell shortcuts. They are either good consultants who know the quickest way there for your company, or they are not - and a pre-packaged methodology isn't going to remedy that.

The first thing you really need to do is get some key people trained at least to foundation certificate level. Make sure there is a sponsor for the whole process with seniority who is also trained. Then formulate some key objectyives, the outcomes of which can be assessed. Consultants can help with just this bit. The ITIL is not really a 'self-help' project for SMEs.

PS - I am not a consultant