Author Archives: Sarah Francoise

About Sarah Francoise

Sarah is seo executive at Documentationconsultancy.com. Documentationconsultancy.com is provides ISO and other Global System Certification organizations from 164 countries require well-organized documents to define quality, environmental, and other systems for certification. Implementing ISO documentation leads to safe production, environmental protection, high-quality services, information security, energy management, and food safety management. However, ISO standards do not guide on preparing ISO documents for quick certification. An experienced ISO consultant organization can provide online ISO documents in editable formats, accelerating the certification process and educating consumers on expectations.

How ISO 20000 is a New Career Opportunity for Auditors?

Businesses everywhere are focusing on providing high-quality IT services while upholding efficiency, dependability, and customer happiness as they become more customer-centric. Many businesses are using ISO 20000, the international standard for IT service management, to meet these goals.

Getting ISO 20000 certified can be a smart move if you’re an auditor seeking a new professional opportunity. The assessment of an organization’s ITSM processes to make sure they adhere to the standard will be your job as an ISO 20000 auditor. Many advantages are provided by this ISO 20000 certification, such as:

  • High Demand: Now-a-days the demand for ISO 20000 auditors is growing as more organizations seek to improve their skills and practices.
  • High Salary: The ISO 20000 auditor demands high salary packages and their skills are in high demand.
  • Challenges: The role of ISO 20000 auditor is challenging but advantageous. You have lots of choices for doing work in any organization, to help with them ISO 20000 practices.

An Overview of ISO 20000 Certification

An organization’s dedication to excellence in IT service management techniques is demonstrated by ISO 20000, a globally recognized standard for IT service management. This accreditation attests to the fact that the company has put in place the appropriate policies, guidelines, and processes to efficiently manage its IT services by industry best practices. Obtaining ISO 20000 certification has many advantages for people and companies. By giving stakeholders and customers more faith in the company and demonstrating its dedication to providing dependable and consistent IT services, it improves the credibility and reputation of the IT service management sectors.

Vacancies in the Auditing Career

For those who are meticulous, analytical, and have good problem-solving abilities, an auditing job offers a wealth of chances. There are many diverse job options in the broad field of auditing, such as:

  • External Auditor: The independent financial auditing of businesses, organizations, and government agencies is the responsibility of these people.
  • Internal Auditor: A company’s internal auditors assess and enhance its operational procedures, risk management, and internal controls.
  • IT Auditors: The IT auditors assess IT-related practices like data security, IT systems, and internal controls for an organization in industry standards.
  • Forensic Auditor: Your job as a forensic auditor is to look into conduct, fraud, and financial irregularities inside companies. To find financial crimes and support dispute resolution, these auditors work closely with law enforcement, lawyers, and other experts.
  • Government Auditor: These auditors audit public sector organizations on behalf of the government authorities. Government auditors are essential to making sure public funds are used effectively and efficiently.
  • Professional in Risk Assurance: In your role as a risk assurance auditor, you’ll offer assurance and consulting services about governance procedures, internal controls, and risk management.

Advancement of Auditing Competence

Professional growth is essential in the field of auditing because of the constantly changing corporate environment, changing industry norms, and new threats. It assists auditors in being current and armed with the resources needed to carry out their duties and obligations successfully. Some important facets of auditing professional growth are listed below:

  • Continuing Training: Auditors are required to participate in workshops, seminars, and continuing training courses to broaden their knowledge. 
  • Professional Certificates: Getting particular auditing certificates might also help you advance your profession as an auditor.
  • Industry Networking: sector networking offers auditors the chance to expand their horizons in their auditing professions through networking with colleagues in the sector, joining professional associations, and going to conferences.
  • Internal Training Programs: A few companies also set up the ISO 20000 internal auditor training course with the goal of strengthening the audit teams’ expertise.
  • Guidance and Mentoring: Skilled auditors can also impart their knowledge. As mentees advance in their professions, mentors can share experiences, offer insights into the auditing industry, and offer helpful criticism.
  • Performance and Review Feedback: Regular do performance reviews and feedback sessions Auditors can get helpful feedback on their work, pinpoint areas for development, and set goals for their professional growth through routine performance reviews and feedback sessions.

Auditors have a fantastic opportunity to expand their career horizons using ISO 20000. The IT service management auditor, IT governance consultant, IT project manager, and IT service delivery manager are just a few of the professions that auditors can access new opportunities in by earning this degree and consistently improving their abilities. The growing significance of efficient IT service management in enterprises is reflected in the growing need for ISO 20000 auditors. A variety of advantages, such as competitive pay packages, interesting and rewarding employment, and access to stimulating career prospects, might result from earning this certification for auditors.

AI and ISO 20000: Upgrading to IT Service Management Standard

In this digital age information technology is the backbone of every business. The ISO 20000 standard developed just because to know the efficient delivery of IT services. The ISO 20000 set out of the criteria for establishing, controlling, maintaining, and continuous management system. The assumption of AI is now reshaping the IT service management pushing the businesses towards the ISO 20000 certification with the efficiency and effectiveness.

The ISO 20000 Certification

ISO 20000 Certification reflects an organization’s dedication to providing high-quality IT services. It focuses on aligning IT services with corporate goals, ensuring customer satisfaction, and continuously improving service delivery procedures. While gaining ISO 20000 certification is an important milestone, using AI has the potential to transform ITSM process.

The AI Powered Growth in ITSM

In the digital age, IT service excellence has become an expected rather than a goal. ISO 20000 certification raises the bar for IT service management, and artificial intelligence serves as a catalyst for meeting and exceeding those standards.

AI-driven ITSM changes the game in several basic ways:

  • Automated Incident Management: AI chatbots and virtual assistants can quickly resolve typical IT incidents, allowing human workers to focus on more complicated duties.
  • Predictive Maintenance: AI algorithms analyse IT infrastructure data to anticipate possible faults and schedule maintenance ahead of time, reducing system downtime.
  • Self Service Portal: AI-driven self-service portals enable users to solve typical IT problems on their own, increasing efficiency and lowering IT support calls.
  • Performance Analytics: AI gives real-time analytics and insights into IT service performance, enabling organizations to discover bottlenecks and improve service delivery.
  • Problem Root Cause Analysis: AI can analyse massive datasets to uncover the underlying reasons of reoccurring IT issues, allowing organizations to adopt long-term remedies.

AI and ISO 20000 Alignment

Let’s see the how AI align with the specific ISO 20000 clauses:

  1. Clause 4: Organizational Context: AI improves an organization’s understanding of its IT context, allowing it to make more educated decisions that correspond with business and service objectives.
  2. Clause 5: Leadership: AI helps leaders by delivering real-time ITSM data and insights that allow for informed decision-making and strategic planning for service enhancements.
  3. Clause 6: Planning: AI’s predictive skills help with risk assessment, capacity planning, and the development of preventive actions to ensure the efficient delivery of IT services.
  4. Clause 7: Support: AI automates basic ITSM procedures, such as incident and problem management, to ensure prompt and efficient support services.
  5. Clause 8: – Operation: AI-powered performance monitoring guarantees that IT services adhere to ISO 20000 standards and business needs.
  6. Clause 9: Performance Evaluation: Artificial intelligence continuously monitors IT service performance, providing data for performance evaluation and assisting organizations in tracking their progress towards service objectives.
  7. Clause 10: Improvement: AI finds possibilities for service improvement and assists organizations in implementing data-driven changes to their ITSM procedures.

AI-powered ITSM auditor training improves the quality of IT services while also streamlining service delivery. As AI technologies progress, organizations that implement AI-driven ITSM processes will not only exceed ISO 20000 requirements, but will also be leaders in offering smooth, efficient, and customer-centric IT services. The combination of ISO 20000 with AI is a winning formula for organizations looking to thrive in the digital era, raising IT service management standards and transforming the IT environment for the better.

Decoding ISO 20000 and ITIL: Understanding Differences, Comparisons and Advantages of ISO 20000

ISO 20000 certification shows the world that your IT department adheres to strict requirements for service design, delivery, and continuous development. The Ascent investigates ISO 20000 and its benefits.

We live in a digital world, and your company’s information technology (IT) department must deliver the finest services available to please customers, strengthen partner and supplier connections, and contribute to the bottom line.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 20000 offers strategies for improving your IT service management (ITSM) operations. We’ll go over its advantages below to demonstrate how implementing it using IT management software can benefit your organization.

What is ISO 20000?

ISO 20000 standard identifies the requirements for an IT service provider to organize, to create, to control, handle, enhance Service Management System. The ITSMS standard gives a uniform structure, terms, and definitions for SMS Certification. ITSMS uses the PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, Act) cycle for SMS. ISO 20000 certification gives external validation that a company’s SMS procedures fulfil standardisation and quality assurance criteria.

What is the Difference Between ISO 20000 and ITIL?

As you begin the ISO 20000 certification process, you must grasp how it relates to Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) principles. The ITIL framework is also concerned with ITSM activities, and the ITIL foundation improves its integration with broader corporate processes and objectives.

The key distinctions include:

  • ISO 20000 is a technical standard, but ITIL methodology is a best practice framework.
  • ISO 20000 certifies corporations and persons, whereas ITIL certifies individuals.
  • ISO 20000 specifies formal requirements for ITSMs and SMSes, whereas ITIL provides guidelines that enterprises can follow to varying degrees.

ITIL and ISO 20000 do not have a formal relationship, but their techniques are complementary: ITIL provides suggested goals, whereas ISO 20000 defines formal processes to achieve them.

ITIL is similar to a job description in that it defines the recommended education level, experience, and skill set for a given role. ISO 20000 defines the hiring process, including how to perform skills testing, interview questions, and a scoring matrix to determine the best candidate.

How ISO 20000 Compares with Other ITIL Processes?

ISO 20000 comprises 13 processes divided into four groups, while ITIL has four versions, each of which builds on previous iterations and contains hundreds of interrelated and overlapping processes. These two techniques are independent of one another; however, they are complementary, therefore some ITIL procedures are ISO 20000 compliant.

The ISO 20000 process groups and related ITIL procedures are:

  • Service Delivery: Service level management, IT service continuity management, availability management, capacity management, financial management of IT services, and information security management.
  • Relationship: Business relationship management and supplier management
  • Resolution: Incident management, request fulfilment, and problem resolution
  • Controls: Controls include asset and configuration management, change management, and release and deployment management.

The primary distinction between ISO 20000 and ITIL practices is that the latter is a collection of best practices, whereas the former describes the methods for implementing such practices.

How Your Businesses Can Advantage from ISO 20000?

ISO 20000 accreditation is a difficult process that should not be taken lightly. This certification boosts your bottom line by confirming your company’s externally approved quality control, efficiency, and continuous improvement methods.

  1. Decreased the Cost: ITSMS gives an in-depth knowledge of IT costs, how to maintain cost, and achieve greater efficiencies. It also helps reduce the number of accidents in IT.
  2. Enhance their Competitions: Access new markets as more public sector agencies, such as the United States Air Force and the United Kingdom National Health Service, seek ISO 20000 certification before awarding government contracts. An ISO certificate also helps your company’s reputation among partners, suppliers, and customers because it demonstrates your commitment to quality procedures and services.
  3. Improved Customer Service: Your IT department and its clients will be on the same page because ISO 20000 requires each service to have a service agreement, which includes the defined service, performance measurements, and remedies and/or fines if service standards are not met. Reduced IT downtime, more efficient operations, and improved IT help desk abilities will all improve your customer satisfaction rankings.

What are the Critical Aspects of the ISO 20000 IT Service Management System (SMS) Policy?

By putting ISO/IEC 20000-1 standards into practice, a company can enhance its ability to provide services by increasing and improving customer trust and fostering a robust service foundation. Organizations that are structured by ISO/IEC standards will be better equipped to plan resources and responsibilities, provide higher-quality services, embrace a continuous improvement culture, and increase productivity and efficiency. Adhering to ISO/IEC 20000 certification would facilitate compliance with other comparable standards and laws since it is structurally aligned with other management system standards.

A document known as the service management system (SMS) policy offers top-level direction on how the company will handle service management. The goals and overarching philosophy of the service organization are outlined in the SMS policy. Senior management has given it approval, and every employee uses it as a guide to help them behave. The process of putting a service management system (SMS) into place requires developing an SMS policy. Other SMS components, such as the service catalogue, service level agreements, and procedures, can be developed on top of the SMS policy. Another essential component for expanding the service plan is the SMS policy. To make sure the SMS policy is relevant to the evolving needs of the company, it should be evaluated and updated regularly.

1. Defining the scope of the SMS

A service management system (SMS) is a set of guidelines and protocols used to oversee services. It covers techniques for organizing, creating, implementing, running, and enhancing services. An organization may choose to put in place an SMS to improve productivity or adhere to industry norms. Upon deciding to deploy an SMS, a company must specify the system’s parameters.

  • Creating a scope statement is one method of defining an SMS’s parameters. A scope statement is a written document that outlines the project’s parameters. A description of the services that are and are not in the system should be included. A list of necessary resources and an implementation schedule should also be included in the scope statement.
  • The creation of a service portfolio is an additional method for defining the reach of an SMS. A list of all the services a company provides is called a service portfolio. It also contains a synopsis of each service, along with its goals and advantages. Organizations can use the service portfolio to determine which services to include in their SMS.
  • After an SMS’s scope has been established, it is crucial to create management guidelines and protocols. The seamless operation of the system and the provision of services would be enhanced by these policies and procedures.

2. Establishing service-level agreements

Formal contracts that outline the acceptable service level are known as service level agreements or SLAs, and they are signed by customers and service providers. A service level agreement (SLA) aims to specify the lowest acceptable level of service that the client may anticipate from the supplier. SLAs are a crucial component of Service Management Systems (SMSs) since they offer a means of monitoring and evaluating the performance of the service provider. Because they offer a means of gauging the performance of the service provider, SLAs are crucial for SMSs. SMSs can detect instances in which the service provider is falling short of the customer’s expectations by keeping an eye on their performance. By altering the way the supplier provides services, this information can be leveraged to raise the standard of service.

SLAs can also be applied to raise client contentment. For instance, a consumer can utilize the SLA to hold the service provider responsible if they are dissatisfied with the quality of service they are getting. SLAs assist in ensuring that service providers satisfy the needs of their clients by ensuring that services are delivered at a satisfactory level.

3. Creating and maintaining service catalogues

One essential part of the service management system (SMS) is the service catalogue. It lays out the expectations for service delivery and gives a succinct and clear summary of the services that the SMS offers. A well-functioning service catalogue will:

  • Clearly state the services that the SMS provides
  • Specify the requirements for the provision of services
  • Assist in guaranteeing the consistent delivery of services

4. Implementing continuous improvement processes

It is imperative to continuously improve the procedures to maintain a high-quality service. This is particularly true for service management systems (SMS), which must continuously adjust to shifting user demands and environmental changes. Continuous improvement procedures can be implemented in SMS policy to help guarantee the system’s long-term efficacy and efficiency. The ISO 20000 policy document can be continuously improved in several ways. The Deming Cycle, commonly known as the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle, is one such strategy. This cycle offers a methodical approach to finding and implementing system changes.

5. Defining roles and responsibilities

The process of planning, developing, providing, and enhancing services to satisfy client needs is known as service management. An organization can manage its service business with the aid of a service management system (SMS), which is a collection of procedures and policies. The tasks and responsibilities of the people and organizations engaged in service management are outlined in the SMS policy. Additionally, it offers guidelines for how service management ought to be carried out within the company. Organizations may better plan, create, deliver, and enhance their services with the aid of service management. They also make it possible for service providers to monitor and summarize customer satisfaction. Service-level agreements (SLAs), service portfolios, and service catalogues are examples of common service management tools.

How the ISO 20000 ITSMS Can Help to Achieve the Business Goals?

To manage IT service management processes and satisfy customer expectations, ISO/IEC 20000 offers a framework. Increased effectiveness and efficiency of corporate processes are two benefits of implementing ISO/IEC 20000. Since the majority of organizations who have attained ISO/IEC 20000 certification have also improved customer satisfaction, they have given services that are of higher quality.

For IT service providers who can take use of widely accepted best practices, standardization, and critical recommendations, ISO/IEC 20000 specifies requirements. It is seen as necessary for establishing a professional connection with a new supplier. For businesses and service providers who want to stand out from the crowd when providing services, ISO 20000 is a compliance certification. When planning, designing, implementing, operating, monitoring, maintaining, and upgrading their service management systems, it sets particular standards for service providers. To satisfy the organization’s service requirements, the strict standards cover the design, transfer, delivery, and enhancement of services.

Organizations would be unwise to disregard the many advantages of ISO 20000. Having a service provider who is ISO 20000-compliant or becoming compliant themselves will be advantageous for almost all enterprises. The only internationally accepted standard for IT service management at the moment is ISO 20000. Due to businesses’ desire to use it as a crucial point of differentiation in the marketplace, it has recently experienced tremendous international adoption.

Customers and service providers alike can have faith in the effectiveness and scalability of the processes because ISO 20000 is a well-known and well-established standard. Even while the list that follows is by no means comprehensive, it will help you understand what it really means for you to be ISO 20000 compliant.

  • The greater efficiency and effectiveness provided by ISO 20000 standard gives service providers and businesses a competitive edge through more dependable IT services. Everyone is in agreement regarding who is in charge of what chores and when they need to be finished thanks to this certification. This reduces the frequency of events while also enhancing the team’s capacity to handle problems as they come up in the future.
  • Organizations may integrate IT services with the overall business plan with the aid of ISO 20000. You may make sure that your organization is centred on the IT service management solutions that will best serve the clients’ needs and the ISO 20000 ITSMS requirements of the industry. With ISO 20000, you will be able to provide superior IT services that are more suited to your internal and external customers’ needs, all while better preserving your company’s assets and soothing the concerns of its shareholders and directors.
  • The business may give the company and the clients specific instances of how you outperform others because ISO 20000 certification assures more effective and efficient delivery of your IT services. By decreasing the frequency of IT issues, for instance, and responding to them more quickly when they do arise, you can devote more of your time to strategic IT development within your company. Since you now have a beautiful ISO 20000 certification, you can use that time to go closer to your company’s development objectives. We all know that time spent putting out fires might be spent developing.
  • Improve the knowledge of and control over IT costs. Plan upcoming expenses more precisely and clearly. You can run a leaner, more effective service if your procedures are clearer and your roles are defined more simply.
  • The corporate world is always evolving, especially in this era of digital and technical advancement. For a business to last, it is imperative to make sure that processes are constantly being improved in response to client input. And it includes both externally recognised improvements as well as changes in technology and business norms. The robust structure of best practices established by ISO 20000 serves as a support system for innovation. Your organization can manage change more skillfully and quickly, which increases your likelihood of meeting organizational goals and lowers internal and external risk levels.

ITSMS Standard: Identify the Overview of ISO 20000 ITSMS Manual

ISO/IEC 20000 is a global, independent standard for IT service management excellence. A standard that helps organizations to demonstrate the quality of their IT Services to clients, as well as to develop and maintain an IT Service Management System that fulfills the worldwide ISO/IEC 20000 quality requirements. This standard assists organizations in benchmarking how their managed services are delivered, as well as measuring and assessing service levels. The ISO 20000 standard is compatible with other management systems such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 27001. It adheres to Annex SL, the High-Level Structure used by all new and amended standards, and it is compatible with Annex SL. This facilitates the integration of various standards while reducing effort and expensive duplication.

What is the ISO 20000 manual?

An ISO 20000 manual is a document that outlines the company’s plans for running and executing the activities within its quality management system. It might contain policies for all aspects of the business that impact your capacity to produce high-quality products while meeting the requirements of the customers and the ISO 20000 standard. These regulations outline how the department managers will carry out operations while adhering to the guidelines outlined in the quality manual.

The aim of the quality manual is to serve as a how-to guide for organizational operating procedures. Any company policy that has an impact on the capacity to supply high-quality products, satisfy customer requests, and adhere to ISO standards can be described in the manual. The document may then be utilized by managers to establish processes, defining for them the constraints and requirements they must meet.

An essential resource for businesses putting in place a quality management system is the ISO 20000 quality manual, which lays out the goals for everyday activities inside the QMS. It establishes the standards for the team’s performance and the standard of the deliverables.

What are the uses of an ISO 20000 ITSMS Manual?

The manual is not just a tool for managers, but it also serves a number of other crucial purposes.

  • Quality manual helps to let staff members know what management expects
  • The manual is used to demonstrate the company’s desire to comply with ISO 20000 requirements
  • To show compliance with Clause 5.3, which stipulates that organizational roles, responsibilities, and authority must be allocated, communicated, and understood
  • Manual used to serve as a starting point for auditors, whether internal, linked with customers, or ISO certification body

What are the benefits of a ITSMS manual?

Making an ISO 20000 ITSMS manual is a wise business move because of the following sources:

  • Support for creating ITSM processes
  • Assist businesses in developing successful ITSMS
  • Enhance an organization’s capacity for ongoing improvement
  • Give a clear, quick description of the system
  • Don’t need the assistance of a consultant
  • Describe a way to operate a business that is more effective
  • Encourage simple registration
  • Spend less time and money adopting ISO 20000 ITSMS for businesses

Outline Three Elements Before Start Implementing ISO 20000 IT Service Management System

The set of best practices that are universally recognized for the deployment of a service management system in both large and small businesses is defined by ITSM based on ISO/IEC 20000 standard. The Service Management System (SMS), primarily focuses on how the business prepares, executes, evaluates, and improves the delivery of new and updated services that will add value for the clients and save money and time, this is the objective of ISO/IEC 20000. The Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) technique and an integrated process approach will be the core elements of the SMS.

Best practices for IT service management are outlined in ISO/IEC 20000, which is the standard for organization certification. Organizations will be able to benefit from how the processes interact, allowing the organization’s processes to mature more quickly. In order to effectively manage internal groups and outside parties and achieve real cost savings, ISO/IEC 20000 also outlines the amount of governance you need.

Several firms adopt the ISO/IEC 20000 standard nowadays because it makes the Service Management processes necessary for a company to claim that it adheres to and provides best practice Service Management quicker. To provide defined and measurable opportunities for effective and efficient service delivery, more and more businesses are obtaining the ISO/IEC 20000 certification for their organizations. This is because it makes it clear that the organization has met and continues to meet the requirements for SMS. A successful ISO/IEC 20000 IT services management system is made up of the three primary components described here.

Management Responsibilities: The goal is to assure the implementation of the service management system implementation duties at the senior management level of the service provider. The responsibility for the service management system must be given to a member of the Management Board who is in charge of implementation and has the necessary skills for the job to fulfill these requirements. In a perfect world, this person would have assistance from a management team that would aid in decision-making. Because of this, the defined service manager also acts as the system’s owner.

Documentation Requirements: The organization is needed to provide records and ISO 20000 documents to help the management process. The objective of this is to ensure efficient service management process planning, execution, and monitoring. Production and management of documents and records must be automated. The documents serve as the cornerstone and basis for confirming that the service management requirements are being followed. There must be a clear separation between two essential aspects.

  • Documents that list the management’s objectives and aims
  • Records that demonstrate the execution

It should be clarified that service management is used in all processes and is not just something that exists on paper. This must be supported by integrated documentation. The management must make sure that all procedures are followed and that the following fundamental ideas are adhered to:

  • Documentation
  • Communicated,
  • Tracked
  • Regularly revised
  • Enhanced

For this reason, it is also necessary to have descriptive documents and relevant records.

Expertise and Training: Managers and staff members must be aware of the significance and relevance of their actions within service management and comprehend how those actions help to achieve quality goals. To guarantee that the requirements for new or updated services can be met, the corresponding expertise and abilities must be accessible.

The ever-changing technological improvements necessitate continued education and additional ISO 20000 awareness training for employees, who should be managed through coordinated skills management. The training necessary for the staff to satisfy future requirements is decided based on a consistent analysis of any inadequacies and condensed into a yearly training plan as part of the discussions surrounding the annual target agreement and the targets derived from the service management planning. Reviewing training measures’ efficacy is necessary. The organization initially establishes the specific skills needed for each service management role to determine the demand.

How to Create an ITSMS Policy According to ISO 20000 Standard Requirements?

One widely used strategy for successful IT service management, from design to implementation, is ISO/IEC 20000. The guide provides international standardization of best practices, as well as a foundation for success that may be applied to various types of businesses. IT service management system refers to the procedures and actions taken by corporate IT managers and stakeholders to develop, plan, implement, organize, control, and maintain enterprise information technology. The approach is based on a system in which operations teams and other stakeholders flush out requirements, which are then subject to the best practices framework, specifically ISO/IEC 20000, which serves as the international universal standard.

The ISO 20000 standard necessitates the existence of an ITSMS policy and establishes rather specific criteria for its content. The ITSMS Policy is among the primary ISO 20000 documents that connect top management with the implementation of the ITSMS. Although it is a strategic ISO 20000 documentation process, if the organization handles it properly, it may be an effective control mechanism for achieving the ITSMS goals and objectives. Furthermore, if you utilize vocabulary that the employees understand and don’t overextend the topic, the organization has an opportunity to align the employees with the organization’s strategic goals.

Firstly, the ITSMS policy is an internal document, which means that customers will not be involved in its development. Customers, on the other hand, are “part” of the policy through the services they utilize. Specifically, the policy should be customized to the services offered and customer support. As a result, generic comments or documents will not suffice because they provide no value to either management or the IT organization’s personnel.

Here which clarifies the ITSMS policy’s goal. The policy should be based on the ITSMS’s scope and in line with the ITSMS plans and the ITSMS’s objectives’ more specific components.

  • Specify the goals they have for the ITSMS – Most of the time, people are unfamiliar with the specifics of how the ITSMS functions, but they must be aware of what they hope to get from it.
  • Control – Top management will be able to specify who is doing what with the policy and monitor the outcomes frequently.

The ISO 20000 standard specifies the following general requirements for the policy’s information:

  • Challenges within the Organization – This is a necessity that the policy is customized to the business case you have. That is, it should be tailored to the services that the organization provides and the people that serve.
  • Service requirements – Top management should promise to fulfill the service requirements, for example, by making a declaration in the policy. There needs to be a way to show that this has been done to prevent such a statement from seeming overly generic. For instance, the SLA (Service Level Agreement) includes client objectives as well as quantifiable goals to verify that those needs have been met. So, it is quantifiable.
  • Communication – All staff members need to know about the policy. It makes sense that nobody would find out if you kept it a secret. Even more, companies can let other interested parties, including clients or suppliers, know about the ITSMS policy. The policy must also be understood by the staff members, which is another need. This implies that you must demonstrate a connection between the policy’s declaration and the outcome of your employees’ labor.
  • Improvement – Last but not least, the policy must explicitly address improvement for both the ITSMS and the policy’s appropriateness to business needs and consumer requirements.

Along with the standard’s required, the scope of the ITSMS, the ITSMS plan, and resource management are just a few additional details that the businesses can include.

How to Understand the Organization’s Context in Terms of ISO 20000 Standard?

ISO 20000 The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electoral Commission together created ITSM, the global standard for IT service management (IEC). 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 set of management procedures designed to help in delivering IT services that are more effective (both to those within the business and customers). The framework and methods provided by ISO 20000 allow for the management of the ITSM while also demonstrating the company’s adherence to best practices, which will enhance the quality of your IT service delivery. And ISO 20000 applies to businesses of any size and in any industry.

Clause 4 has been modified by the addition of the phrase “Context of the Organization” in ISO 20000-1:2018. The organization establishes a strong foundation for attaining the objectives and results of the Service Management System by being clear about which internal and external concerns are pertinent (SMS). must start with internal problems and determine the organizational context.

The corporation must specify the limits and applicability of the SMS to establish the scope of the ISO 20000 implementation in to identify the context of the organization. The organization should take both internal and external factors into account when deciding the scope. A company’s internal problems can be caused by several, a few of which are mentioned below.

  • Organization size: Concerning the assignment of duties to employees, a company’s size is a key factor. One individual may be responsible for several roles in a small business.
  • Organization structure: The organization’s service management processes must be handled across all departments and functions. Before adopting an SMS, the organizational structure of the business, such as its hierarchical, matrix, or self-learning team structure, must be taken into consideration.
  • Culture: Adopting a service management system requires careful consideration of ethics, individual conduct, and departmental personnel.
  • Methods/frameworks: Find out if the business has already received certification for any ISO standards, such as ISO 20000:2011. Knowing how much of the current processes, procedures, and ISO 20000 documents have to be revised to comply with ISO 20000:2018 will be made it easier with this information. You should also be aware of any other frameworks that the business has been using, such as ITIL, COBIT, etc.
  • Technology: What different technologies does the business utilize to provide its present services, such as IT infrastructure including the cloud, SAAS, PAAS, etc.?
  • Service types: What types of IT and non-IT services, such as local, global, round-the-clock, and 24×7, are provided by the organization for its products?
  • Resource capabilities: Process maturity, organizational maturity, and staff maturity all play critical roles. SFIA (Skills Framework for Information Age), a global industrial framework, can be used by IT professionals. The ISO 20000 awareness training is crucial in this context.

The implementation of an SMS should be adaptive enough to meet business changes brought on by external factors. Some of the external challenges that organizations need to be aware of are listed here.

  • Political: An organization may be unable to establish or strengthen alliances with organizations in other nations if the nation’s foreign policy changes. For example, Changes in government, laws, regulations, alterations in policy, and controversies
  • Economic: The procedures for determining prices, accounting practices, and procedures may need to alter as a result of this. For instance, competition, consumer purchasing power, and union membership inclusion or exclusion
  • Sociological: Customers and suppliers could demand business operations electronically. Employees grow increasingly technically minded and conscious of the advantages of electronic communication.
  • Technological: Advanced technologies in communication and computing may increase organizational effectiveness and efficiency, which rivals are currently utilizing. For instance, benchmarks, emerging technologies, and trends
  • Legal: The way that the management systems function may vary as a result of changes to the organization’s policies and practices. For instance, trademarks, intellectual property rights, and data privacy or confidentiality
  • Environmental: This could be the consequence of pressure from the organization’s specific operating environment or industry, or it could be from the actual environment in which the organization is located. The way that redundant equipment is disposed of may be impacted by the company’s commitment to corporate social responsibility or by the addition of an environmental management policy, such as ISO 14001. Take e-waste, sustainability, and renewable energy as examples.

12 Tips to Improve the ISO/IEC 20000 Audit’s Pleasantness

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.