Following a hugely successful pilot, itSMF UK is expanding its maturity assessment scheme.
For some years now, one of the services that our members have requested most regularly is an ITSM maturity assessment. They tell us they are looking for a concise, independent review of their service management practices, the results of which not only indicate the level of the maturity of the organisation itself in each key process area, but also identifies improvement opportunities and offers benchmark data to position the business alongside its competitors and peers.
In response to these requests, we considered developing our own assessment scheme – or potentially partnering with one of our existing member organisations to offer such a service.
However, during late 2021 Axelos announced its new ITIL Maturity Model platform. Unlike some similar services, this assessment examines more than just process. Instead, it looks across the entire service management system, exploring the interactions between practices, tools, management information and the competency of key personnel to give a truly objective and integrated picture.
What we particularly liked about the Axelos service was that, although it is based on the architecture and concepts of ITIL 4, it is specifically not about ITIL implementation. Both components of the Maturity Model – Practice and Service Value System (covering governance structure and management system respectively) can be assessed in organisations that have developed their service management capabilities and systems using ANY relevant guidance and sources of good practice.
Pilot phase and beyond
The Axelos service clearly promised to provide what our members needed. So, following the successful completion of the Axelos Consulting Partner (ACP) accreditation process, we announced a pilot phase in February of this year to evaluate the level of interest within the itSMF community.
We’ve been delighted with the response and facilitated out first assessment during May of this year, with further assessments scheduled over the next 6 months. Demand has actually been higher than expected, and so we are currently working through the accreditation process with our second assessor.
Ultimately, by providing this service we are able to help our member organisations understand clearly where they need to focus in improving their overall level of maturity. And over time the anonymised data we collect from these assessments, in addition to the benchmarking data Axelos publishes, will allow member organisations to see how they compare with their peers.
One key piece of feedback we received from the first assessment, as to why they chose us over other options available, was that we are truly independent and, importantly, won’t be looking to sell further services on the back of the findings (although we will be looking to produce a list of member organisations that can be approached if further support is required).
It’s important that we continue to ensure that the membership benefits portfolio meets the requirements of our member community, and so we’re pleased to confirm the ITSM Maturity Assessment service will continue to be offered in 2023 and beyond.
Further information can be found here – please contact us to discuss your requirements.
itSMF UK
itSMF UK is the country’s leading membership association for service management professionals – with members ranging from individual service management practitioners to large multi-national organisations.
We have spent the last three decades helping ITSM professionals both to be better and to do better. As the first of an international network of itSMF chapters, we continue to enrich the working lives of our members through our conference and events, professional guidance, focused content, annual awards, competency management, leadership council, member groups, and new communities of practice.
View our membership video or visit us at www.itsmf.co.uk
