Which ITIL Intermediate Courses Should I Choose?

Understand the best Route to ITIL Expert - for You

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Which ITIL Intermediate Courses Should I Choose?

The ITIL v3 Qualification structure was launched in 2007 and over 100,000 have now completed the new Foundation Certificate. At the higher level are two streams of modular courses which each represent a certificate in their own right - and also provide credits towards the ITIL Expert award. There are now also a number of Specialist Certificates which add further complexity. This summary aims to present the options clearly to allow you to choose what is right for you or your team. If you have further questions please contact a Focus expert advisor on 0845 450 6120.

Prepared by: Rex Gibson

About:
Focus on Training specialises in provision of Best Practice training within the Project Management and IT Service Management sectors. A comprehensive range of ITIL, ISO/IEC20000 and related courses from leading accredited training organisations can be booked at:
www.focus-on-training.co.uk

Focus on Training is an active member of the IT Service Management Forum which plays a central role in updating and disseminating the ITIL framework through its international network of 6,000 organisations and 70,000 IT professionals. Rex Gibson leads the IT Service Management team at Focus. He has successfully executed major business change and IT projects, and has managed international engineering companies with significant IT dependency.
rex.gibson@focus-on-training.co.uk

Version 2.01 October 2010

Focus on Training

Tel: 0845 450 6120

www.focus-on-training.co.uk

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Which ITIL Intermediate Courses Should I Choose?

The ITIL v3 Qualification structure was launched in 2007 and over 100,000 have now completed the new Foundation Certificate. At the higher level are two streams of modular courses which each represent a certificate in their own right - and also provide credits towards the ITIL Expert award. To receive the ITIL Expert award you will need a minimum of 22 credits. The v3 Foundation Certificate provides 2 credits and the final summary course "Managing Across the Lifecycle" provides 5. Both of these courses are mandatory, so unless you have version 2 Practitioner qualifications you will be looking to gain at least 15 credits from the Intermediate courses. There are 9 Intermediate courses organised into two streams - "Lifecycle" and "Capability". It is possible to Pick and Mix - but which should you choose?! [See the Focus guide ITIL Qualifications Explained for full details about ITIL training]

Why Two Streams?

The 4 Capability Certificates focus on specific ITIL processes so are more akin to the clustered Practitioner certificates which existed under the version 2 qualification structure. As such they are most useful to those who will be taking part in the day to day practical activities described within each of the processes. The 5 Lifecycle Certificates mirror the 5 core ITIL manuals. They address the aspects of ITIL from a holistic, lifecycle perspective. As such they are more suited to those with managerial responsibility looking at the overall IT Service Management picture. The Service Strategy course in particular is very much rooted in the broader corporate strategy and governance environment.

What are the Courses?

Capability Stream: (4 Credits Each) 1. Operational Support & Analysis (OSA)
Event, Incident, Request, Problem, Access, Service Desk, Technical, IT Ops and Application Mgt

2. Service Offerings & Agreements (SOA)

Portfolio, Service Level, Catalogue. Demand, Supplier and Financial Management

3. Release, Control & Validation (RCV)

Change, Release & Deployment, Validation & Testing, Service Asset & Configuration, Knowledge, Request Management and Service Evaluation

4. Planning, Protection & Optimisation (PPO)

Capacity, Availability, Continuity, Security, Demand and Risk Management

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Lifecycle Stream: (3 Credits Each) 5. Service Strategy

Service Strategy Principles; Defining Services & Markets; Strategic Assessments; Financial Mgt; Service Portfolio Mgt; Managing Demand; Strategy through the Lifecycle; Critical Success Factors & Risks

6. Service Design
Design Principles; Design Processes; Design Technology Related Activities; Organising for Service Design; Technology; Implementation & Improvement

7. Service Transition
Service Transition Principles; Mgt of Activities; Communications; Commitment & Organisational Change; Organising Service Transition; Control & Co-ordination; Selection of Implementation Approaches; Critical Success Factors & Risks

8. Service Operation
Service Operation Principles; Processes; Activities; Organisation & Functions; Technology; Implementation; Critical Success Factors & Risks

9. Continual Service Improvement

Service Improvement Principles; Processes; Methods& Techniques; Organisation; Technology; Implementation; Critical Success Factors & Risks

Wheres The Overlap?

You may choose to select your optional modules from just one stream. If you do not then you need to understand where there are areas of overlap. The following matrix highlights the main areas of overlap and indicates where key ITIL processes are covered: OSA Service Strategy SOA
Financial

RCV

PPO

Service Design

Service Level, Catalogue, Supplier Change, Configuration, Release, Validation, Knowledge, Evaluation Incident, Problem, Service Desk, Request

Availability, Capacity, Continuity, Security

Service Transition

Service Operation

Event

Cont Service Improvement

Little Overlap Some Overlap Much Overlap

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Watch Out! When assessing you for the ITIL Expert award the accreditation authority will not accept credits which they consider to be "double counted" (ie those marked "Much Overlap" in the chart above).

Our Suggestion
Focus recommends that you steer towards one of the 6 combinations shown in the chart below: Step 1: If your requirements are entirely operational or entirely managerial, choose either the full set from the Capability or Lifecycle streams accordingly (ie Options 1 or 2) Step 2: If not, concentrate on deciding which of the Capability courses are most relevant to you. Once you have decided this then use the suggested options to offer a good mix of ITIL topics There is a useful Credit Profiler tool on the ITIL Official Site which you can use to explore your options. This also explains credits available for those who have passed v2 Practitioner exams. http://www.itil-officialsite.com/itilservices/v1/map.asp ITIL Intermediate Courses Recommended Combinations Option 1 OSA Capability SOA RCV PPO Strategy Design Lifecycle Transition Operation Improvement 2 3 4 5 6

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Remember! Once you have completed the mix of Intermediate modules you will need to take the Managing Across the Lifecycle course and exam to become an ITIL Expert.

Additional Options
A new series of ITIL Specialist courses was launched by the ISEB in 2010. These effectively update the Version 2 ITIL Practitioner courses. They are similar to the Capability modules above but are more focused on a given process. Each of the Specialist courses provides 1.5 credits towards ITIL Expert. Focus recommends that they are most suited to those who need to develop an in depth understanding of specific ITIL processes. They may also prove a useful option for those who aspire to ITIL Expert and are within 1.5 credits of achieving the necessary 17 credits (prior to Managing Across the Lifecycle).

Save Money
Focus is able to offer substantial discounts to those who are working towards ITIL Expert and are able to pre-commit to a series of courses. You can find a range of options on the Focus website which allow you to follow one of the 6 options in the table above. Courses are available across the UK. If you do not see what you are looking for then do not hesitate to ask!

Focus on Training

Tel: 0845 450 6120

www.focus-on-training.co.uk

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