Published by ISO and IEC, ISO 20000 is the universe standard for IT service management (ITSM). ISO 20000 is recognized by the majority of nations in the globe because it was approved by a majority of member nations to become an international standard. The standard outlines a series of management procedures intended to help you provide IT services more successfully. The methodology and structure provided by ISO 20000 help to manage the ITSM while demonstrating that the business adheres to best practices, which will enhance the quality of the IT service delivery. And ISO 20000 applies to businesses of any size and in any sector. Here are mentioned some tips that help to make the ISO/IEC 20000 audit process easy.
- Conduct an ISO/IEC 20000 Mock Audit: In a mock audit, also known as a dry run, a qualified person assumes the role of the certification auditor. and poses as a guide who takes the auditee through a real audit. with a fake audit report included.
- Always be ready for an ISO/IEC 20000 Audit: A good mindset to have is to always be ready for an audit.
- Keep documents and records in one place: If the organization has a document management system. Use it to store all the documents. If you have automated solutions, use those to store the ISO 20000 records.
- Know the ISO/IEC 20000 audit requirements and evidence: The organization knows the requirements the auditor expects you to meet. Participate in an ISO/IEC 20000 awareness PPT training course at work.
- Launch the applications before the interview: Speaking of preparing for an audit, make sure to launch every application that has records that the organization wants to show.
- How to know that the process or service is effective: The effectiveness of the service management system (SMS) is what matters most. Make sure the organization measures the effectiveness of the process if they are the process owner of the service. Act upon effectiveness issues with priority. And document all those actions. Through the continual improvement process.
- Ensure that the top management or senior individual is also present: During audits, leadership must show its commitment. Being present during an audit interview is one way of doing so. And accepted by the boss when management decisions were made. Decisions that may have caused the process or service to perform not the way was intended.
Tips that benefit during the ISO/IEC 20000 audit
- Mentally prepare for surprises: Even the best preparation may come with surprises during the audit interview. An unexpected question from the auditor. A co-worker chimed in and derailed the thought process. Or a disagreement over a finding or an opportunity for improvement.
- Educate the ISO/IEC 20000 auditor: Particularly, the auditor who audits for the first time does not know the organization, the business processes, the organizational structure, the successes, and achievements, or the titles, acronyms, and other language that is specific to the organization. So, build in time during the interview to educate the auditor. The better he or she understands the employees and the organization, the more value to the auditor can be.
- Be passionate and show confidence: Express how excited you are owning the process or the service. How you have immersed yourself in the requirements of the ISO/IEC 20000-1 standard? And how you have educated yourself and those you work with through formal ISO/IEC 20000 auditor training and awareness sessions. Convey with confidence your eagerness to learn more about the users of your process or the consumers of your service. And how you continuously improve your process or service to ensure its relevance and contribution to the results and outcomes of your organization.
- There is always scope for improvement: No process or service will ever be perfect. Auditors understand this. And they are expecting it not to be. So, missing out on a target now and then is normal. Simply accept the finding. And collectively with peers determine and execute improvements.
Tips that benefit after the ISO/IEC 20000 Audit
- Timely follow-up on corrective action plans and findings: When the auditor has determined a nonconformity or an opportunity for improvement of the process or service, follow up promptly. Organizations are given a certain amount of time to provide a corrective action plan. Provide the plan before the due date. And execute the plan according to the target dates as promised in the plan.
IT Services Management System- 20000 