Why ITIL is still relevant in 2015

ITIL was once the most commonly debated topic in the ITSM and Service Desk world, inspiring fervour and debate. Yet at events such as the recent ITSM Show, the once all-conquering topic was rarely mentioned in the seminar programme or in conversations. So does that mean that the IT Infrastructure Library is no longer as relevant and useful as it once was?

Here’s three reasons why ITIL is still important reference tool in 2015.


1) The ending of the hype has put it in perspective

There were broadly two types of people involved in ITIL debates: its supporters and its detractors. Dedication bordering on fandom tended to create almost comedically extreme views, with supporters blindly refusing any criticism of the books, with critics attacking the framework as if it had committed a grievous crime. Now the hype has died down, people are able to see ITIL for what it always was: a solid reference point for understanding IT service management.


2) Forward-looking ownership

Axelos, the organisation that bought ITIL from the UK government, has publicly stated that ITIL must be modernised and adapt to the current pace of change in IT, and that it will produce evidence and examples of how the framework can be used to improve ITSM. We are still in the early stages of this, but the signs are that ITIL will move with the times and respond to community feedback. Axelos has also stated that it will help the ITIL community integrate other methodologies such as Lean and Agile, recognising that ITIL is now part of a much wider world.


3) It’s helps order IT chaos

ITSM has become sprawling, spanning into other departments and incorporating technologies such as cloud and user-owned devices. While ITIL needs work to adapt to these changes, it does however continue to offer a useful reference point for building and fixing any IT service. Individuals who understand ITIL will always find it easier to work with other processes and understand interdependencies between actions, departments and services.

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