ITIL is one of the best and most preferred frameworks used by various business organizations across the globe. Though, in spite of having different benefits, there are many misconceptions related to the framework.
The most common one is that it is not compatible with other standards which makes it rigid sometimes. But what if the ITIL best practices can efficiently adopt approaches of other standards such as Agile that might helps in enhancing its performance? Have a look “how the combination of ITIL and Agile can be beneficial for delivering more efficient services in business.”
ITIL and Agile – Not-So Different Perspectives
Before we discuss the various benefits of ITIL and Agile, let’s understand both the concepts in-depth:
- Agile: Agile is not just a methodology; it is more than that. Agile is a project management approach and contrasting with the sequential standards and traditional predictive. As per the Agile Methodology, the main aim of the project is to develop a product. Due to this reason, it is more inclined towards product management rather than project management.
- IT Infrastructure Library: ITIL is a comprehensive framework designed for IT Service Management. It includes service strategy, transitions, design, operations, and improvement in the service continuously. The start-up and development phase of ITIL is evolving continuously as per the service strategy. So, involving it for managing your IT service is the best choice.
Moreover, if you as an individual wants to understand and adopt it, then ITIL training will be the right path that you can follow to give a boost to your IT knowledge. Even, it helps you to understand every aspect related to the implementation of ITIL in your organization. So, gaining an understanding of ITIL implementation will not pass without returning any benefits.
Benefits of combining the ITIL and Agile
An approach combined of ITIL framework and Agile framework can deliver better value to the overall delivery chain of IT; Also, it supports defining lean processes. Let’s go through the major benefits of ITIL, and Agile combination:
- Transition Gracefully
For various business organizations, ITSM is responsible for the involvement of IT. Even, it gets involved in various contracts; as a common language framework. But, shifting directly to the agile framework might be a little daunting.
One of the best approaches to make the best use of Agile and ITIL is to start with adapting the Agile. ASM (Agile Service Managemen) is very helpful in the transition. Also, it shows how the ITIL and Agile together provide an optimal environment for the development- all you need is to understand the strength of both the approaches clearly.
- Continual Learning and Experimentation
Agile methodology involvement promotes rewarding risks. It suggests the time allocation that helps in improving day-to-day activities and bring fault introduction in the system so that resilience can increase.
Processes like IT service continuity management, Information service management, and availability management helps the developers to get a clear understanding of the critical services and risk associated with them.
- Better workflow
In this, service management processes like incident and problem management can help in determining the actual cause which is stopping the workflow. Also, proactively avoid defect from passing downstream. Priority 1 and 2 must be sorted as soon as possible as they directly impact on the customers. The incidents with lower priority can accommodate with the team bandwidth.
This approach says that “it is not so important to address every incident immediately as with the time better value can be delivered to the customers with proper prioritization and selection.” Use of Live Dashboard can be made to flash the current status for inspiring the team to clear the queue before the end of the day.
- A shortened and amplified feedback loop
The task in problem management can be handled effectively just like the user’s story in the product backlog. A minimum of PR (Problem Records) needs to be maintained, as they are essential for the management of dashboards and reports.
Problem Records can give insights to a number of incidents which links to the records and their reoccurrence. Even, It also helps in prioritizing the issue resolution efforts in the product menu. Designing a process can be done through an iterative and incremental approach.
For example: If the introduction of new concepts and tools make the Change Management Process outdated, the teams can understand the real reasons that what they are actually trying to achieve and redefine the targets via process sprints.
Processes that have a conversation with the external and internal customers such as business relationship management, service level management, availability, and capacity – can provide inputs which help the development teams to understand and effectively respond to the customer queries and priorities.
Best Converge for ITIL and Agile approaches
The point where both the frameworks can integrate best vary as per the nature of every business; this is the reason why before combining both the frameworks one must have the in-depth analysis of perspectives and characteristics’ of both the proposals. It will help to locate the points where both frameworks can be converged easily.
ITIL processes are not prescriptive which means every designed process is the set of good practices that will adjust as per the business requirement. So, by adopting the agile approach, it becomes easier for you to adopt the ITIL framework to effective integration.
Some of the processes in which ITIL and Agile are best to integrate are:
- Business Relationship Management
With the help of this process, ITIL can effectively interact between the business world and IT service provider for facilitating compliance with the principles of Agile; Especially with regard to the requirements of a business, collaboration and ongoing communication.
- Implementation Management
With the implementation management process, IT Infrastructure Library supports the business companies to efficiently handle the control over the agile team’s products for value adding, organizing and fast delivery of services.
- Service level management
As per the ITIL point of view; the process ensures the usefulness. In other words, a proper understanding of the basic requirements of a business. The Agile methods help in the prioritization of business requirements.
Service level Management additions the BRM (Business Relationship Management) with respect to non-functional requirements, expressed for instance in the levels of security, availability, capacity, and continuity which are expected from products of the project.
In conclusion, the ITIL and Agile combination undoubtedly beneficial for all types of business organization. As it is an integration which allows having fast and efficient delivery of services. It offers the increased profitability to the business by providing the customers with an instant response that fulfill all their desires and expectations.