ITIL & eTOM

[eisbergsk]

Is there anyone who can share their insights on the TeleManagement world's apparent plan to swallow ITIL in eTOM? Within the TMforum there are increasing references to ITIL and how to use it in conjunction with eTOM ("because eTOM does a better job than ITIL of describing telecom service providers’ most important services"), but I couldn't find many eTOM references in ITIL documentation.

Can you tell I work for a telco, but am an ITIL-practitioner? I think both models have value, but I could use some help showing that all the ITIL implementation that our IT dept has done does not need to be thrown out if we adopt eTOM.



[Edited: Reason for edit - removal of external links]

[RandyASteinberg]

This is backwards - actually - from your company's standpoint, eTOM should be swallowed into an overall ITIL IT Service Management initiative.

eTOM is very prescriptive in how to run and operate a telecom service. There is a lot of value in eTOM in how it prescribes that. eTOM does not address all the other services outside of telecom that may be part of an overall service being delivered to customers and end users.

Therefore, by making eTOM the main focus, your organizations risks operating like a telecom silo at the expense of other IT services and functions that it may be delivering or that may be dependent on the telecom functions.

Many of the eTOM services can easily be placed into an ITIL Service Catalog along with other services that you may be providing. Hopefully you get my drift here. Good luck!

RandyASteinberg@aol.com

[eisbergsk]

Thanks for your insight, Randy. It may be difficult for me to suggest that non-traditional telco products (and we are moving to IP-based services) would not benefit from an eTOM structure, but it's a very good point and worth making. At least it might help as I try and persuade the Borg not to assimilate us.
/Sharon