Overview

The ITIL framework, or Information Technology Infrastructure Library, is a major framework in IT service management. Because IT is a constantly changing subject, it is critical for ITIL developers to update it continuously to stay up with contemporary technology and best practices for its management. In light of this, a new version of ITIL, ITIL V4, has been released. One of the fundamental changes has been an orientation towards the Lean-Agile approach. This article will explain the significant modifications that have been implemented in the current edition of ITIL through the means of this post on ITIL V3 versus ITIL V4.

ITIL Version 3

ITIL V3 is the third edition of the Information Technology Infrastructure Library model, which corresponds to a compilation of widely accredited best practices for managing information technology. This approach highlights the notion of IT as a service that aids in achieving business objectives. ITIL V3 was published in the year 2007 and is considered to be one of the most widely adopted ITSM frameworks. The crucial aspect of ITIL is that it is constantly growing to meet the current business environment better. To comply with the recent technologies or practices such as DevOps, Lean, and, most notably, Agile, the designers of ITIL have created a new framework known as ITIL 4 that meets the needs of the customer or IT company. The following section will deal with a brief outline of ITIL V4.

ITIL Version 4

ITIL V4 is an updated version of the ITIL V3 framework that incorporates enhanced competitive features that allow greater integration of IT service management with business objectives. ITIL V4 was launched in 2019. It aims to aid in developing a successful IT Service Management strategy by offering an effective end-to-end methodology for the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of technologically enabled goods and services.

ITIL V4 also gives businesses the information to solve emerging service management problems. It aids in unlocking the benefits of contemporary technology in an age of Agile, DevOps, Cloud, and constant change. The ITIL Service Value System (SVS) and the four dimensions model are the significant elements of ITIL V4. These dimensions are 
 

• Organizations and People

• Information and Technology

• Partners and Suppliers

• Value Streams and Processes.

These components represent a substantial advancement in ITIL over earlier versions. They embody a change from a narrow focus on service delivery to a broader view of the value produced by the goods and services provided to customers and stakeholders.

Service management had been introduced as a "systems approach" with interrelated assets and components in ITIL V3. It did not precisely specify a four-dimension model or the role of these features in service management.

ITIL 4 is intended to facilitate a smooth transition from an organization's present ITIL and working style to a speedier, more flexible, more Lean-Agile approach.

With these things in the back of our heads, we will proceed to the salient differences between ITIL V3 and ITIL V4.

V3 Process versus V4 Practice

A "process" in ITIL V3 is a series of actions that have been updated to "practices" in ITIL V4, which refers to something that is performed with the appropriate resources. ITIL V3 processes provide a sequence of actions, as well as specified roles, KPIs, as well as other process-related data. ITIL V4 practices, on the other side, are the skills that an organization can perform. Practice is more comprehensive and all-encompassing than a single method. Practice is the continual pursuit of a goal or interest, and it's generally something you want to better or maximize over time. After all, we refer to best practice rather than best procedure. A best practice is something that everyone believes is the most efficient approach to accomplish a goal.

Although there are a lot of novel concepts, phrases, and thoughts to consider in ITIL 4, nothing previously existing has been rejected or debunked. That is, whatever you learned in ITIL V3, or previous editions still have enormous value. ITIL 4 has just enhanced this value by requiring us to concentrate on business value instead of technicalities.

The most significant distinction amongst ITIL V3 v ITIL V4 may be a shift in language rather than a fundamental structural change, namely the ITIL V3 processes. When word of the transition from ITIL V3 to ITIL V4 began to circulate in the ITSM space, many people discussed the decision to abandon the term "process" in favor of "practice". Many professionals were perplexed as to why this change was made. In actuality, the term "processes" was misapplied in ITIL V3 and prior versions. For example, if we take the incident management process, we never refer to a single operation. Instead, we discussed a set of processes and skills that enabled us to handle problems more effectively. ITIL V4 has brought all of these elements together and labeled it a practice.

The 34 practices specified in ITIL 4 provide you with everything required to co-create value with stakeholders. The range of these practices has been substantially enlarged from the perspective of its 29 processes provided by ITIL V3—a manifestation of considerable developments that have influenced the IT sector in past years. The guidelines for these practices emphasize that every company is unique and must take measures tailored to their specific business goals. As a result, the principles are far less rigorous than prior incarnations of ITIL, but they equip you with the skills that are necessary to improve the value you produce for the company. These principles are also to be applied contextually and guide any organization that uses them.

Re-orientation towards Agile

ITIL V4 fosters the integration of Agile and DevOps into ITSM practices and marked attention to move away from a siloed approach, better collaboration, and easier communication throughout the entire organization. ITIL 4 is intended to be more adaptable and easily customizable. In sum, ITIL 4 promotes a more comprehensive approach to information technology.

The Agile approach dictates that an iterative approach to project management and software development must be followed.

This approach enables teams to provide value to their clients quickly and with fewer impediments. An Agile team provides work in tiny, digestible chunks with shorter time horizons (usually eight to twelve weeks). Teams have a natural mechanism for adjusting to change fast since they regularly assess requirements, strategies, and outcomes. Moreover, they are given more autonomy while working, enabling them to make timely changes as per changing customer demands and business needs.

Unlike the conventional "waterfall" model, which requires one department to contribute to the project before "throwing it over the wall" to the next, Agile requires collaboration from teams that are cross-functional. Thus, to follow an Agile approach, a team must have open communication, co-operation, and trust. Although the project lead or product owner usually prioritizes the work to be delivered, the team decides how the work will be completed, self-organizing around smaller tasks and manageable assignments.

A focus on costs, outputs, risks, and value is more prominent in ITIL 4. The foundational principles of the new edition were not a part of the ITIL V3 and are based on a good corpus of ideas prescribed by the ITIL Practitioner. They are:
 

• Focus on value

• Start where you are

• Progress iteratively with feedback

• Collaborate and promote visibility

• Think and work holistically

• Keep it simple and practical

• Optimize and automate

As is suggested before, ITIL V4 places a stronger emphasis on value creation.

ITIL V4 divides its practices into three constituent headings: General Management, Service Management, and Technology Management instead of ITIL V3's Service strategy, Service Design, Service Transition, Service Operation, and Continual service improvement.

The ITIL 4 model for continuous improvement outlines a structured way to identify and execute improvements at all levels of a business. ITIL 4's continuous improvement model has seven steps, similar to the ITIL V3's seven-step improvement process in several areas. Further, there is limited guidance on Infrastructure and platform management in ITIL V3. At the same time, ITIL V4 practice covers the governance of the usage of technologies in an organization, with an updated set of practices and procedures for cloud services and cloud computing. 

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Conclusion

In conclusion, ITIL 4 is a refinement of ITIL V3. It highlights the changes in a corporate culture where teamwork and communication are given more importance, and the integration of IT into the overall business structure is crucial. More saliently, it marks a shift towards the Lean-Agile and DevOps approach to enable an organization to adapt to changing circumstances. As an added advantage, it prescribes that organizations foster an environment of collaboration and trust among their teams to arrive at mutually beneficial results. Further, ITIL V4 makes some significant and practical changes in terminology, like its shift from "process" to "practice." This change has broader implications on how one thinks about the organization and the route to achieving its objectives. Finally, a renewed focus on 'value' underscores the need to understand business organizations as value-creating entities and optimize their value delivery mechanisms.