ITIL v2 to v3 - is it worth it?

Overview

ITIL has become the most widely adopted Best Practice framework for ITSM. The recent ITIL V3 refresh has sparked renewed interest but, although many are aware of the new version, the majority are unsure as to how, or even if, it will affect them. V3 has prompted IT organisations to look at existing processes, ITIL maturity and future strategic plans, including ISO/IEC 20000 accreditation. This White Paper uses the IT Maturity Model to compare each ITIL version and identify which approach is best suited to individual IT organisations.

Findings of this report indicate that V3 is not suited to every organisation, but provides elements that can be used to drive improvements and acts as a benchmark. The level of IT maturity within an organisation can be linked to its predominant focus, whether process or service-driven. Thus, V3 should be seen as evolving from V2, as opposed to replacing it. The basic V2 processes must be in place to a sufficient IT maturity level before the V3 Service Lifecycle Approach can be considered. The decision to embrace V3 is also dependent on the overall business strategy, which may not necessarily tie in with the V3 mindset. So, is V3 right for you?