Customer Reviews

Implementing ITIL Configuration Management

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was recently assigned the project manager role to implement a configuration management system for a Fortune 500 information technology department. While I had experience implementing configuration management systems from a CMM/CMMI perspective, I had never implemented one based on ITIL.

Mr. Klosterboer's book provided the framework for me to: plan the project, orient my team on the approach we would be taking, and provide reference material for the team. Members of my team have decided to purchase the book based on the invaluable content. The table of contents is well defined so as to allow you to go to the section you need quickly.

I have been involved in over a dozen process improvement efforts and have never found a resource so well designed to assist in implementation. Too often the books I have read have been more theory than practical application. I find myself looking at some section of the book every day.

At the technical manager level, this book helps you decide on a configuration management system. There is a moderate amount of jargon in the narrative. But overall, the book's recommendations seem valid. Details are supplied about what to plan for. And it is emphasised that planning is vital to a successful project.

You might want to look carefully at the chapter describing failure analysis. It looks at finding single points of failure. Suggesting that you might prepare a risk statement for each such point. Where this is as detailed as you can make it, covering factors like the probability of the event and an action plan to minimise this. Or to recover if it occurs.

This is an excellent pragmatic view of implementing an ITIL conformant Configuation Management system. It is very useful in understanding the space between ITIL abstract ideals and reality. In addition to a solid description of the technical issues, it provides insight into how to manage expectations and organizational challenges. I highly recommend.

This is a good book about implementing the process, because it describe common mistakes and best practices. So the project approach is clearly explained.
However the book doesn't go into the details of the CMDB schema. I think that the approach for this book is more useful for implementing existing CM solutions (i.e. Tivoli) rather for building a new CM system. Be aware that implementing the CM process in isolation is not as affective as implementing together with Change Managemenr (as suggested by ITIL and this book).

I can fully endorse Larry's book for anyone involved in planning and deploying Configuration Management. I have been working in the service management space for a number of years and highly recommend reading Larry's book before going anywhere near specific software products, or even planning configuration management at the high level. He provides an excellent overview of how to put together a configuration management project, and all of the issues that you will need to consider. Two key recommendations from the book that I strongly endorse:
1. Do not let techies decide what information/details to collect (you will end up collecting lots of useless information)
2. Start with a limited subset of key information; get it working; then build from there.
By the way, Larry has also written equally excellent books on Change and Release Management, and Capacity Management.

I found this book to be a great resource for understanding ITIL framework and role of CMDB. I recommend it to anyone who is new to ITIL and is looking at implementing ITIL framework.

I found this book and the presentation of the material to be insightful, accurate and extremely helpful in understanding the in's-and-out's of implementing a configuration management program. While the ITIL provides a solid outline of what the CM process must include, it does not and cannot provide the level of detail that this book provides. The ITIL does however provide the necessary integration and other factors necessary for an ITSM program that the book does not and cannot provide. This book was for me the perfect complimentary guidance & reference to the ITIL for getting our CMS and Configuration Management program/process started. This should be a must have and read for any ITSM Configuration Manager.

This book purchased was what I wanted and provided me with the information on ITIL that I was looking for.