As IT and cybersecurity become increasingly involved in contracts, project managers looking to improve project performance need to consider using ITIL®. In today’s world of tight budgets, delayed projects, and constant staff reductions, project managers are looking for different ways to run their projects.  Having foundational technical competence is not enough when working with IT departments on a project. Project Managers must focus not only on technology, but people and process as well. ITIL is the most widely accepted approach to IT service management and is relevant to any Project Manager working with IT services on a project. Here is an introduction to ITIL and it's importance in improving project performance.

Digital transformation has altered the IT landscape significantly. ITIL 4 addresses this new world in ways no other best practice framework can, providing an end-to-end operating model for the delivery and operation of technology-based products and services. ITIL 4 embraces a holistic philosophy to service management, integrating collaborative frameworks such as Lean IT, Agile and DevOps into a single, seamless approach. Download our infographic for a closer look at the ITIL learning journey.

ITIL 4 is a major overhaul to the entire framework and the biggest change since ITIL v3 was published in 2007. ITIL 4 offers a more agile, flexible and customizable version of ITIL that is updated for the modern workplace. ITIL 4 encourages less siloes, more collaboration, communication across the entire business and integrating Agile, DevOps, Lean, IT governance and leadership into ITSM strategies.

Editor's Note: This post was originally published November 2018 and has recently been updated and revised for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

For those of you who are already progressing deep into ITIL v3 there is path to transition to ITIL 4 without having to start from square one. The ITIL Managing Professional Transition Module covers the core elements from the ITIL Managing Professional stream. There is a mandatory training element and exam associated with this module, enabling you to transition your existing designations into the new ITIL 4 certification scheme. Successful completion of this module provides you with the ITIL Managing Professional designation.

ITIL V4, the latest version of the world’s most popular ITSM framework, was  released in February of 2019. Announced nearly two years ago at the itSMF USA Fusion 2017 conference, the new ITIL update focuses on integrating ITIL guidance with best practices from the worlds of DevOps, Agile, and Lean. ITIL V4 was developed by a team of more than 150 industry experts contributors and writers, along with a new ITIL Development Group consisting of more than 2000 members representing many of the largest organizations in the world.