Understand the use of “adopt and adapt” in ITIL

ITIL is an IT Service Management (ITSM) framework that provides guidance for companies and organizations looking to improve their IT processes. One of the most common myths about ITIL is that it is prescriptive and does not allow the necessary flexibility to adapt to the needs of each business. However, this could not be further from the truth. ITIL is actually very flexible and offers a fundamental principle of application that is based on “adopt and adapt.”

The “adopt and adapt” principle in ITIL

The “adopt and adapt” principle in ITIL is a fundamental concept that allows companies to apply the ITIL framework according to their own needs and challenges. Instead of being prescriptive, ITIL offers a set of guidelines that can be adapted to each business in a flexible and agile way. This means that companies can create personalized and effective approaches for their specific needs.

The principle is flexible enough to work with existing systems and new developments that the company may adopt. This allows companies to create more agile approaches to changes and understand the risks they are taking.

Using adopt and adapt in Service Desk management

The Service Desk is a central point of contact for support and access requests and may focus on a smaller subset of processes. Adopting and adapting ITIL in this context is easier because the Service Desk has its own tools that can be adjusted to meet the specific needs of the company.

Issues and challenges

Despite being a flexible principle, using “adopt and adapt” can generate some challenges. One of them is the role of the Change Advisory Board, which can be seen as sacred in ITIL, but may not work in an adopt and adapt approach. Additionally, it is important to avoid assigning roles that are less complementary and may inhibit the effectiveness of using adopt and adapt.

Conclusion

In summary, ITIL is not prescriptive and can be adapted to the needs of each business. The use of adopt and adapt in ITIL is a flexible principle that allows companies to adapt to their specific needs. While there may be some challenges, adopting and adapting is a more agile and effective approach to IT service management.