ITIL - Explained

What is ITIL? How it became IT standard for service delivery and how it got started? These are many questions which one asks in the starting face of the ITIL foundation training. Or many times one has curiosity to know these facts, when he/she hears things about ITIL.

ITIL stands for Information Technology Infrastructure Library.The Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) is a said to be a set of concepts and policies for managing and administrating information technology (IT) infrastructure, development and operations. Latest version ITIL V3 includes service delivery in the wheel. From service provider’s aspect ITIL integrates quality & efficiency of IT Processes with  business & budgets as expenses to control. Service Management is a set of specialized organizational capabilities for providing value to customers in the form of services. Service management can also be described as a set of “functions and processes” for mapping services over their Life cycle.

ITIL Birth –Till today :  In late 1980s, UK government (CCTA/OGC) started the project and in due course of time, organizations outside of government became interested. During this time, first edition of books published. In early 1990s, the library got completed. ITIL Version 2 was published in late 1990s. Early industry adopters were financial, Government, Utilities and medical institutes and organizations. Latest version of ITIL is version 3 which is also known as life cycle model, gives greater focus on strategy and business outcomes.

Service lifecycle is integrated to build on a great practice  base, to Enabling integration with business process, for Managing services from cradle  to grave, for Removing process silos and for Reflecting the public feedback  for holistic lifecycle focus.

ITIL Service Lifecysle is a model whereby the strategy begins with the customer’s desired outcomes.This means that what the customer values is often different from what the service provider thinks he or she provides. ITIL service lifecycle acknowledges that every service provider is subject to competitive forces.