ITIL Master (Version 5) – joining the ranks of the elite

Georgie Otubela – ITIL Master, lead author, ITIL Service (Version 5), Product Delivery Manager

Georgie Otubela, lead author of ITIL (Version 5) advanced module, ITIL Service, previously scaled the heights of the ITIL certification scheme with ITIL v3 Expert and ITIL 4 Managing Professional. Here, she explains why achieving ITIL Master (Version 5) matters.

From a professional perspective, ITIL Master (Version 5) is a designation that holds weight in the industry.

When organizations are recruiting, they want the crème de la crème (the best of the best), and that means ITIL Masters or those holding one or more of the associated designations: ITIL Managing Professional, ITIL Strategic Leader, and ITIL Practice Manager (Version 5).

It’s simply attractive for companies to hire those who have taken the learning and development journey and invested time and energy into validating their experience.

And this is something I have always wanted to attain: demonstrating that I can talk the talk and walk the walk.

ITIL Master (Version 5) – another “string to the bow”

Being able to validate that you know the theory and can apply it in the real world is important when talking to people at the business end of your organization. So, having a designation to back you up and add depth to what you’re saying adds credibility and another string to the bow.

Personally, the combined knowledge offered across the ITIL (Version 5) qualification scheme, leading to the ITIL Master (Version 5), has offered me a lot.

The ITIL Transformation (Version 5) module, for example, is a welcome addition to the framework, taking a practitioner from the theory of ITIL (Version 5) into practice, arming them with various approaches and a toolbox to work with.

For me, who has worked in service delivery for a long time, ITIL Strategy (Version 5) elevated my thinking to what is being delivered in an organization as a whole and to consider areas such as budget control. At the same time, ITIL Experience (Version 5) weaves well into the knowledge from ITIL Service (Version 5) and ITIL Product (Version 5).

Studying the specialized practice modules within ITIL Collaborate, Assure and Improve – with a focus on areas such as relationships and vendor stakeholders – has enabled me to appreciate what other departments do, how to interact with them, and address issues such as supply chain risk.

Taking ITIL Master (Version 5) back to the “day job”

Returning to my Product Delivery Manager role with the ITIL Master (Version 5) designation, I took a more strategic view, managing the delivery of a project and thinking about the impact on other people’s projects, resources, and timelines.

For example, ITIL Experience (Version 5) informed my approach when delivering a single sign-on project, which meant explaining to finance colleagues why this was a change for the better.

With my “experience” hat on, I was able to adjust communications to explain why it mattered and alleviate any fear of the unknown, as we were changing people’s working practices.

This not only set an example to others in the business about the value and importance of communicating information regarding change, but it also prepared the service desk and application support teams for what was coming.

Combining ITIL Managing Professional, ITIL Strategic Leader, and ITIL Practice Manager (Version 5)

A designation pathway to ITIL Master (Version 5) that makes sense.

The route to ITIL Master (Version 5) is a natural “ladder” from ITIL Foundation (Version 5), through the advanced modules, which help deepen practical, real-world experience.

The designations leading to ITIL Master (Version 5) can be tailored to your career path. Have a look at the syllabus to decide how it aligns with your goals.

And having the three designations on the journey gives the candidate a milestone to hit and a sense of achievement along the way; breaking down the journey into meaningful steps and a manageable timeline.

Each designation brings its own level of kudos and validates that you have absorbed the theory and gained the practical ability to apply it.

Not easy, but worth it.

Because ITIL Master (Version 5) is not easy to achieve, reaching it shows that a practitioner has deep knowledge and has validated their experience and learning.

It really is a huge personal achievement, and, as not everyone will get there, you will be joining an elite group that is raising the bar of professional practice for people in the IT and digital product and service management industries.