<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Managing information technology services is becoming an increasingly difficult task. To support the management of IT services, different standards and methodologies have been developed. ITIL (short for IT Infrastructure Library) is the most commonly used best practice approach to effective IT Service Management to date. ITIL focuses primarily on what to do in order to ensure value of IT services, but it does not explain how to achieve this effectively. This shortcoming can be overcome by complementing the framework with other quality approaches to service management. In this context several methodologies are mentioned including the use of Six Sigma (6s) methodology. The statistical nature of the Six Sigma methodology enables us to analyze the vast amount of data gathered from the field of IT. Only after these value-based metrics are obtained can the overall health of the IT service be determined and the necessary improvement measures made. The aim of this paper is to analyze in detail the two approaches. We will establish a common link between them, with it the opportunity to complement ITIL with the Six Sigma methodology, and consequently set foundations for introduction of necessary measurable changes.</p></abstract>

Managing information technology services is becoming an increasingly difficult task. To support the management of IT services, different standards and methodologies have been developed. ITIL (short for IT Infrastructure Library) is the most commonly used best practice approach to effective IT Service Management to date. ITIL focuses primarily on what to do in order to ensure value of IT services, but it does not explain how to achieve this effectively. This shortcoming can be overcome by complementing the framework with other quality approaches to service management. In this context several methodologies are mentioned including the use of Six Sigma (6s) methodology. The statistical nature of the Six Sigma methodology enables us to analyze the vast amount of data gathered from the field of IT. Only after these value-based metrics are obtained can the overall health of the IT service be determined and the necessary improvement measures made. The aim of this paper is to analyze in detail the two approaches. We will establish a common link between them, with it the opportunity to complement ITIL with the Six Sigma methodology, and consequently set foundations for introduction of necessary measurable changes.

Managing IT Services: Aligning Best Practice with a Quality Method

Delivery Center, IBM Global Services, s.r.o Brno, Technical 2995/21, 61600, Czech Republic

Faculty of Computer and Information Science, University of Ljubljana, Tržaška 25, 1000 Ljubljana

Organizacija

{"article-title":"Managing IT Services: Aligning Best Practice with a Quality Method"}

Managing information technology services is becoming an increasingly difficult task. To support the management of IT services, different standards and...

Managing IT Services: Aligning Best Practice with a Quality Method

Published Online: Feb 07, 2012

Page range: 31 - 37

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10051-012-0004-6

Keywords
IT Service Management, ITIL, Six Sigma methodology, DMAIC, continual improvement

This content is open access.

Managing IT Services: Aligning Best Practice with a Quality Method

Published Online: Feb 07, 2012

Page range: 31 - 37

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10051-012-0004-6

KeywordsIT Service Management, ITIL, Six Sigma methodology, DMAIC, continual improvement

This content is open access.

Keywords
IT Service Management, ITIL, Six Sigma methodology, DMAIC, continual improvement