By Donna Knapp and Michael Cardinal Even prior to the First Industrial Revolution, someone who made their living as a stagecoach driver couldn't possibly imagine that one day people would use an app to arrange an Uber that could take them to the airport where they could get on a plane and fly across the world in a matter of hours. All that history is understood in hindsight, as is the case with any industrial revolution. Fast forward to today. We are in the throes of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and there is massive speculation about the impact of advancements such as artificial intelligence (AI). It’s tempting to think that the problems and challenges that organizations and individuals are currently facing are unique. In reality, as we explore in ‘What Would Deming Do’ , the past provides valuable lessons that we can use to navigate the present and leverage as guidance for the future. What history teaches us is that industrial revolutions have a lot in commo...

This article was originally published in 2015. With the Introduction of ITIL 4, some of the concepts have changed in ways that are described below. ITIL 4 has also introduced new roles, as explained in our blog ITIL 4 and the Evolving Role of Roles . Before we dive into the difference between these roles, let’s first look at a key update in ITIL 4 – the shift from processes to practices. ITIL 4 has evolved to focus on holistic practices vs. isolated processes. By definition, a practice is a set of organizational resources designed for performing work or accomplishing an objective. For example, the purpose of the incident management practice is to minimize the negative impact of incidents by restoring normal service operation as quickly as possible. All organizations recognize the need to allocate resources to the management of incidents and mature their capabilities in that area. In ITIL 4, each practice includes resources based on the four ...

In the rapidly evolving landscape of IT service management (ITSM), the principles of service design have expanded beyond just focusing on technology. As we embrace new methodologies and innovations in 2024, the Four Ps of Service Design remains a critical framework to ensure comprehensive and effective service delivery. See also: The New Four P's of Service Management These Four Ps are People, Processes, Products, and Partners. 1. People: At the core of any service design are the people who deliver and consume the services. In today's world, this includes a diverse range of stakeholders from employees and customers to vendors and partners. Effective service design considers user experience (UX) and employee experience (EX) to ensure services are intuitive and meet the needs of all users. The rise of AI and automation has transformed roles, making it essential to invest in continuous learning and development to keep skills relevant. 2. Processes: Streamlined and efficient proc...