IT4IT Foundation for practitioners, Whats in it for you

FOUNDATION FOR
PRACTIONERS
By Practioners for Practioners
Building IT Capabilities for meeting evolving Business Expectations
NEED FOR NEXT GENERATION IT
OPERATING MODELS
“Disruptive winds of change are blowing across the Industry and
impacting the way in which Enterprises need their IT to
function”
Many CIO organisations have adopted best practices, International
Standards, World class tools, Project Portfolio Management, etc., but the goal
of aligning IT to Business remains elusive.
Everyone is aware that new technologies and the current wave of automation
driven by mobility and the Internet of Things are forever changing the ways
in which IT is used and operated.
Instead of being a ‘Mechanic Shop’ that provides technology and fixes things
when they go wrong; Businesses now need IT to behave like a ‘One Stop
Customisation Studio’ focused on value outcome improvements; not status
quo maintenance.
They want IT to become their strategic partner and help them transition to
the Digital Era, where a customer with a smartphone, is really the King.
®
IT4ITtm is the registered trade mark of the Open Group

2 IT4ITtm is the registered trade mark of the Open Group

SERVICE DELIVERY NOT
TECHNOLOGY DELIVERY
The transformation from ‘doing everything themselves’ to ‘getting things done’
in the best possible manner; innovating new ways of reaching and interacting
business customers; requires a new Operating Model, that does away with
Silos and focuses on delivering valuable service outcomes to the business.
For the first time, a management model for IT, comes from a non-
manufacturing root (CMMI, ISO, ITIL, et.al); the next generation IT Operating
Model – The ‘IT Value Chain’ from the Open Group, draws its inspiration
from Potter’s Value Chain which is more related to service management.
By focusing on ‘Value Outcomes’ devolved to stakeholders (as opposed to
process maturity) this bold
new approach; is the
fore-runner in the
transformation from ‘Silo
Based Technology Delivery’ to a
‘Service Delivery’ Paradigm; that
continually improves value outcomes
through innovation.
This movement can be described as acquiring an
‘Outside-In View’ (focussed on
stakeholder value outcomes)
instead of operating from the
traditional, Siloed, ‘Inside-Out
View’ (focused on technology
delivery)
The Service System components illustrates how;
Technology requires a capabiity layer ,that brings in the
required Customer Focus for establishing the outside-in view.


BOUNDRYLESS INFORMATION FLOW
FOR MANAGING IT AS A BUSINESS
Much of the success enjoyed by modern enterprises is directly associated
with how the enterprise manages its data resources and makes it available
across functions in a seamless manner; providing capability to convert data
into relevant and valuable information at the appropriate moment.
The ‘Boundaryless Information FlowTM 1 problem space is shared by many
customer members of The Open Group, and similar organizations worldwide.
It is essentially the problem of getting information to the right people at the
right time in a secure, reliable manner, in order to support the operations
that are core to the extended enterprise.
Business functions such as Sales, Finance, Manufacturing, Inventory,
Warehousing, Logistics, etc., have excellent ERP grade IT Solutions that can
integrate globally, and provide boundryless information.
Despite many claims, “Boundary Less Infromation Flow” or an ERP grade
solution for IT Service Management is still a distant dream.
The Silo-Design of traditional IT Organisations, extendes deeply into the IT
Service Management Application
Space. Each Silo has its own
management system typically
desgined and implemented to ensure
that the Silo is able to demonstrate
compliance to targets.
As each of these applications come
with proprietory architectures, it is a

1 The Open Group’s Interoperable Enterprise Business Scenario originally published in
2001, crystallizes this need for Boundaryless Information Flow and describes the way in
which this need drives IT customers’ deployment of their information infrastructure.


daunting task to integrate the information, to achive desired levels of
transparency for managing the ‘Deliverd Service’ in a meaningful manner.
The IT4ITTM Reference Architecture brings in the required standardisation
capability that can be used by all stakeholders, including tool developers, to
ensure that their Services will expose required information to other Services
that need them; using a common Service Model and associated lingua franca
and achive ‘Boundaryless Information Flow”
The transformation from a Mechic Shop to a ‘Customisation Studio’ is
heavily dependent upon the capabilities of the ITSM tool sets to provide
boundary less information flow required for supply chain transparency for
tracking and improving value chain outcomes.
In simple words, ‘Innovation breeds on information’.
IT’S ALL ABOUT 2 SPEED (BI-MODEL)
IT; MULTI-SOURCING FOR AGILITY;
AND USING NEXT GENERATION IT
OPERATING MODELS
“Bimodal IT is the practice of
managing two separate,
coherent modes of IT delivery,
one focused on stability and the
other on agility. Mode 1 is
traditional and sequential,
emphasizing safety and
accuracy. Mode 2 is exploratory
and nonlinear, emphasizing
agility and speed.2”

2 Gartner IT Glossary http://www.gartner.com/it-glossary/bimodal/


Gartner research3 indicates that already, more than 40% of organizations
describe themselves as having started the journey, and such is the current
momentum that we anticipate that fully three out of four organizations will
be at some level of bimodal maturity by 2017
4
Digital transformation demands that businesses be more agile, manage
uncertainty and deliver solid reliability. CIOs can meet this challenge by
using a bimodal approach to managing IT, reducing time-to-market and
more-effectively aligning IT's activities with the dynamics of a digital
business.
Confronted by digital transformation, IT leaders recognize the need to
innovate more, manage uncertainty better and establish more agility.
However, they have to do this while simultaneously running the business and
hitting regular performance goals, which is where bimodal capabilities are
crucial.
Bimodal affects the whole ecosystem internally and externally. This is not
just about the IT organization. Bimodal is important to external service
providers (ESPs), because enterprises will want to engage with them in
different ways, and it will present new opportunities for ESPs. As a result,
practice leaders and strategic planners in ESPs need to develop a way to
respond to customers in both modes:
The essence of the situation as documented in the Research Paper “Managing
uncertainty — that is, being able to move forward even when the future is
unclear or when a predefined plan is impossible — is foundational to success
in the digital era.

3 How to Achieve Enterprise Agility with a Bimodal Capability?
https://www.gartner.com/doc/3037317?ref=SiteSearch&refval=&pcp=mpe
#a541674132
4 Gartner Predicts 2015: Bimodal IT Is a Critical Capability for CIOs -
https://www.gartner.com/doc/2914217?ref=ddisp


Often, the desire to manage uncertainty is masked by a focus on speed, but
frequently that's because speed is seen as a way to respond to uncertainty.
The benefit of speed afforded by bimodal is eclipsed by the benefit of being
able to move forward when the future is unclear.”
However, one single aspect is clear, the journey for enterprises transition
from legacy ‘Mechanic Shop Models” to a Customisation Studio Model
requires that requisite capabilities be systematically grown and established
across all layers of the organisation.
IT4ITTM Reference Architecture is based on the the IT Value chain and was
developed with the following aspects considered: -
l The required changes do not start with People, Process, Technology and
Partnerships
l Instead the changes must start with the structure and focus of the
organisation, which in turn will impact the roles, processes, the IT
automation and Technology Landscape.
l What is required – A new IT operating Model that modernizes IT in the
following Key areas:
Ø Engagement Model: Moving from exclusively project-led fulfillment to
a self-service experience that puts the control over the pace of
innovation in the hands of the service consumer (IT or business
consumers).
Ø Deliverables: Shifting from the traditional “system of Record” focus
driven by monolithic process focused applications to a new service-
centric orientation powered by hybrid composite applications and
information that evolve rapidly and continually.
Ø Lifecycle: moving from a technology-centric, project lifecycle to
managing the end-to-end service model and lifecycle. This opens the
door for using new development methodologies like Scrum, agile and
models such as DevOps.
Ø Operating Model: moving from a technology delivery organisation
focused on Silos to a value chain model that promotes value-based


consumption, greater cost transparency and multi-sourced delivery of
a broad-based service Portfolio.

The transformation that is needed to realize these benefits entails adoption
of the IT4IT standard. The standard comprises a reference architecture and
value chain-based IT operating model for managing the business of IT.
IT4IT™ – REFERENCE ARCHITECTURE
FOR MANAGING THE BUSINESS OF IT
Designed by customers like you over the last 2 years using real world use cases
Based on Porter’s value chain and lean manufacturing value streams concepts
Leveraging business value chain success in IT
The Open Group’s IT4IT Reference Architecture is a standard reference
architecture and value chain-based operating model for managing the
business of IT. It uses a value chain approach to create a model of the functions
that IT performs to help organizations identify the activities that contribute to
business competitiveness.


This value chain framework, called the IT Value Chain, applies this concept to
IT by defining an integrated IT management framework focusing on the
lifecycle of services. It identifies the key things that IT must do – and do well.
It allows IT to achieve the same level of business predictability and efficiency
that supply chain management has allowed for the business, and was
designed by practitioners to be industry, product, and vendor-independent.

l IT4ITTM, provides a Vendor-Neutral, Technology-Agnostic, and Industry-
Agnostic Reference Architecture for managing the business of IT.
l IT4ITTM, prescribes holistic management of the business of IT with
continuous insight and control, enabling Boundaryless Information Flow
across the entire IT Value Chain.
l IT4ITTM Standards and Guides, professionalise IT, to work across silos and
prepare for emerging enterprise IT industry trends in a better, faster,
lower cost way, and with less risk.
l IT4ITTM Standards and Guides, professionalise IT, to work across silos and
prepare for emerging enterprise IT industry trends in a better, faster,
lower cost way, and with less risk.


This brings a huge difference to the capability of external service provider
organisations to take over operational responsibility and provide End to End
Services directly to business consumers while the CIO becomes a facilitator.
The reference architecture and IT operating model cover all of the activities
that are needed to provide business functions with appropriate IT services.
The IT4IT Reference Architecture describes the IT function from a value
focused end-to-end perspective covering all capabilities and data needed to
manage the IT services.

It describes the IT function both as IT service provider to the business, and
as consumer of IT services that support the IT function.
The standard specifies the IT function’s workflows, integrations, data, and
functions as requirements for (automated) information systems that support
the IT function.
The transformation can be undertaken incrementally, enabling the benefits
to be realized as soon as possible.
It provides capabilities for the CIO organisation to transition from the
current Silo Based Organisation model and become a Broker-Integrator who


is no longer constrained by the traditional shackles that owning your own
infrastructure and managing your own people that limit IT value deliveries.
It provides the necessary traceability in multi-sourced Service Delivery
Models by ensuring the structure of information as an enterprise operates
the IT Value Chain operated by multiple third party service providers.

THE IT4ITTM FOUNDATION FOR
PRACTIONERS PROGRAM
All things being equal people are the key to success. Establishing next
generation, IT Operating models and associated Innovation Eco-System
requires a re-skilling of IT Staff across all the layers of the Operating Model
positions starting from Senior executives to fresher’s joining from
universities.


The picture5 above illustrates the moving people capability profiles, where
the demand is driven by disruptive technology trends. The IT Management
Gap, an existing serious impediment, can only grow further.
While this challenge can be daunting for professionals currently engaged in
IT Service delivery; There is a silver lining with possibilities for transforming
to a customizer and continuing to grow a bright and valuable career without
becoming redundant.
The IT4ITTM Foundation for Practioners Program is the class room
component of Action Research Foundation’s much wider Enterprise ITSM
Architecture Capability Building Program.
While the program teaches the knowledge required for Level 1, Foundation
Certificate and ARF has the authority to hold integral exams, the program
itself is not mandatory for getting certified.
The program is developed and delivered in a manner that meets the
requirements of the Open Group for its Accredited Training Centers and
operates our own value chain based, custom built, QMS that
ensures that value is added to the candidates from the
time they consider doing the program and extends into
the practical space beyond by welcoming you into the
ARF Learning Center
Community with a Unique ARF-
LC ID where you can meet other
likeminded people and further
your learning.
We operate a structured analyse and improve process that
validates learning goals achieved by our students, using both

5 Refer: Open Group Management Guide, IT4ITTM
for Managing the Business of IT
ISBN: 1-937218-70-6 Document Number: G160, available at opengroup.org.


anecdotal and empirical data and use it to identify improvement
opportunities and mount service improvement programs.
The program has been designed by successful, practicing architects, who
have ‘Been There and Done It’; winning international Enterprise and IT
Architecture Excellence Awards for their customers and recognition for the
pioneering work in implementing ITSM SOA Frameworks and their
Automation layers.
Internalisation of Key Learning points mandated in the official curriculum; is
ensured through the use of case studies and actual war stories from
successful and failed Transformation initiatives; drawn from domains such as
Retail, Finance & Banking, Automobile, Telecom, IT Service Provisioning.
THE OPEN GROUP®
CERTIFICATION
FOR PEOPLE - IT4IT™ PROGRAM
CONFIGURATION
Overview
The Open Group® Certification for People: IT4IT™ Certification Program (the
Program) makes certification available to people who demonstrate
knowledge and understanding of the Body of Knowledge covered by the
Program.
The Program also provides accreditation for training courses designed to
help people acquire the necessary knowledge and understanding of the Body
of Knowledge in order for the person to achieve certification.
Current and complete information on the certification program and
conformance requirements are published on the Open Group Website see:
http://www.opengroup.org/certifications/it4it
A Brief Overview is provided.
The Program is based upon a set of key documents:


1. The Open Group Certification for People: Certification Policy, which
sets out the policies and processes by which an individual may achieve
certification.
2. The Open Group Certification for People: IT4IT™ Conformance
Requirements (Level 1), which documents what elements of the Body
of Knowledge an individual must know, understand, or be able to do,
including depth of knowledge required, in order to achieve a given
level of certification.
3. The Open Group Certification for People: Training Course
Accreditation Policy, which sets out the policies and processes by
which a training course may achieve accreditation.
4. The Open Group Certification for People: Training Course
Accreditation Requirements, which documents the criteria that must
be met by a training course in order to achieve accreditation.

These four documents together set out the policies, processes, and
requirements for the Program. This document defines the values for the
terms used within the key documents.
Program Configuration
Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to
them in either The Open Group Certification for People Certification Policy or Training
Course Accreditation Policy.
Body of Knowledge - IT4IT™ Reference Architecture, Version 2.0, published
by The Open Group, October 2015, Document No. C155
Available Certifications - Level 1, IT4IT Foundation
Knowledge of the terminology, structure, and basic concepts of IT4IT and
understanding of the core principles of the IT4IT Reference Architecture and
the IT Value Chain.


Conformance Requirements - IT4IT Foundation: The Open Group®
Certification for People: IT4IT™ Conformance Requirements, Version 1.0,
published by The Open Group, February 2016, Document No. X1602
Purpose of Certification - The purpose of certification for IT4IT Foundation
is to provide validation that the Candidate has gained knowledge of the
terminology, structure, and basic concepts of the IT4IT standard and
understands the core principles of the IT4IT Reference Architecture and the
IT Value Chain.
The learning objectives at this level focus on knowledge and comprehension.
Target Audience – The target audience for this level includes, but is not
limited to:
Ø Individuals who require a basic understanding of the IT4IT Reference
Architecture and IT Value Chain
Ø IT Professionals who are responsible for delivering IT services
Ø IT Professionals/Practitioners who are focused on instrumenting the
IT management landscape
Ø Enterprise Architects who are responsible for IT business
transformation
Ø Individuals who want to achieve IT4IT Level 2 certification
Certification Mark
The Open Group® Certification for People: IT4IT™ Certification Program
Trademark License Agreement defines The Open Group Certification Mark
logo that is to be used in the Program along with the following labels that
identify the specific Body of Knowledge against which a person is certified
and the level of certification achieved:
Label for Level 1 Certification – Level 1, Foundation, IT4IT™
Elements Applicable to Certification of Individuals
How may Candidates prepare for certification? – By attendance at a
training course or by self-study


Duration of certification – Indefinite
Expiry – Certification to a given version of the Body of Knowledge does not
expire, so there are no re- certification or renewal requirements.
Migration – As this is a new program, there is no migration policy.
HOW TO REGISTER
Visit Actionresearchfoundation.com or Send us a mail requesting for
information to info@actionresearhfoundation.com.

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