ITIL Foundation (Version 5), what’s new?
Roman Jouravlev and Adam Griffith, ITIL Architects, PeopleCert
The new ITIL Foundation (Version 5) course and guidance codifies something that service management professionals have made clear they wanted.
This was not just a demand for practicality without prescription, but seeking an answer to the core question about the wealth of theories and concepts in ITIL: how do we apply this?
For example, practitioners want to know what the ITIL guiding principles mean and how to apply them; they want to understand the impact of AI, but also how it can benefit them and their organisation; and for the activities in the ITIL value chain, they want to see workflow diagrams to know how things work in practice.
The approach we’ve taken to improving the Foundation level in ITIL marks a major change to how candidates will learn and apply the knowledge every day. But it also builds on what was achieved in ITIL’s previous version.
From ITIL 4 to ITIL (Version 5)
The ITIL 4 Foundation course – launched in 2019 – reflected the fundamental change brought to the entire ITIL framework.
ITIL 4’s core concept of a service value system, combining governance and management of digital services, evolved the previous, process-based model into a set of practices that heralded a more holistic and value-oriented approach.
In addition, the guiding principles, first seen in ITIL v3 Practitioner in 2016, became a central element of ITIL 4 from Foundation level onwards.
However, like any significant change to a management framework and associated training and certification, ITIL 4 Foundation had room for improvement: the value chain model included some activities people found confusing, and the 34 practices proved overwhelming for some learners at this level.
But, as ongoing development based on industry feedback has been in ITIL’s DNA since its creation, there is always the potential to improve and make ITIL an even more practical partner for service management professionals.
ITIL (Version 5) – the core thinking
The latest version of ITIL is the result of evolution rather than revolution and is built on the key concepts within ITIL 4: the guiding principles and the service value system, including governance, the value chain, practices and continual improvement.
However, a serious shift in ITIL (Version 5) is the eight-stage ITIL Product and Service Lifecycle Model. This shows explicitly how eight key activities apply to every product and service:
● Discover
● Design
● Acquire
● Build
● Transition
● Operate
● Deliver
● Support
This embodies our belief that products and services are not alternatives but are two sides of the same, digitally-enabled technology solution to deliver business value.
And this move in ITIL (Version 5) is equally about bringing product and service communities together to create greater value both for customers and their own organizations.
ITIL Foundation (Version 5) – a deeper dive
Among the various changes to Foundation level in ITIL (Version 5), there are two overriding principles:
1. ITIL Foundation (Version 5) is AI-native
Created with the use of AI in mind and the need for effective AI governance.
2. ITIL Foundation (Version 5) is complexity-native
In the unclear context of a VUCA world, ITIL needs to support experimentation to find
the right direction for organizations, not just execute a plan, and provide sound advice on
how to do this.
In addition to an ITIL value chain that is now simplified and more recognizable and relatable than the previous version, ITIL (Version 5) introduces key terminology related to several management practices, with full practice guidance available in the official ITIL Practice Guides.
This includes definitions of the practices – such as problem, change and incident management – which makes the latest version more practical and useful for people both new to ITIL and established practitioners.
Additional knowledge that previously featured in higher-level ITIL modules – such as the service journey model in ITIL 4’s Drive Stakeholder Value module – is now introduced in ITIL Foundation (Version 5), though deeper application is covered in the advanced modules - especially ITIL Experience; another change instigated by feedback from the service management community and now set to benefit the ITIL Foundation audience.
Practicality underpins ITIL Foundation (Version 5), and its appendices are an opportunity for learners to take their new knowledge one step further. These become a practical toolkit for candidates, which helps them see what’s possible beyond the Foundation training level.
And the fictional narrative that runs through the Foundation guidance – the story of a company going through AI-enabled transformation – is a powerful means of learning and translating theory into practice. As the scenario and its characters appear again in more advanced modules – alongside scenario-based exam questions – this helps familiarize candidates with the concepts from Foundation level onwards.
Laying the groundwork to continue the ITIL learning and certification journey
The upper modules in ITIL (Version 5) link back to the structure of ITIL Foundation (Version 5).
For example, ITIL Foundation (Version 5) explains what – and who – the next modules are for; whether that’s three of the modules in the Managing Professional track – ITIL Product, ITIL Service, ITIL Experience – the modules leading to ITIL Practice Manager or the Strategy module for those aspiring to achieve ITIL Strategic Leader. And, in each designation journey, ITIL Transformation is a common thread.
ITIL Foundation (Version 5) also includes a refined version of the continual improvement model, a key concept throughout all of the advanced modules, which candidates can use immediately and understand already when advancing through the ITIL learning pathway.
And a critical addition to the post-Foundation learning journey for professionals across all roles is the ITIL Transformation module. This equips professionals and their organizations to put ITIL product and service management theory – designed to work within complex and AI-enabled environments – into practice.
ITIL Foundation (Version 5) – immediate application in the workplace
Creating an awareness and understanding of the holistic, end-to-end management of digital products and services in organizations is something that ITIL Foundation (Version 5) candidates can expect from day one.
This knowledge applies equally to those working in internal IT organizations, employed by managed service providers, or working in digital product development: cultivating, respectively, product professionals who are better service managers and service managers who recognize and respect the product perspective.
ITIL Foundation (Version 5) offers the launch pad for a shared framework covering digital product and service management by bridging the communities and helping them see the holistic picture.
Learn more about ITIL Foundation (Version 5) and how it supports practical, AI-native digital product and service management.