ITIL is the most widely accepted approach to IT service management in the world. Providing a cohesive set of best practice guidance drawn from the public and private sectors across the world, it has recently undergone a major and important refresh programme.

IT Service Management derives enormous benefits from a best practice approach. Because ITSM is driven both by technology and the huge range of organisational environments in which it operates, it is in a state of constant evolution. Best Practice, based on expert advice and input from ITIL users is both current and practical, combining the latest thinking with sound, common sense guidance.

David Norfolk on Reg Developer has already alluded (http://www.regdeveloper.co.uk/2007/06/06/itil_3_launch/) to the launch of this latest version of the popular Best Practice framework, and will be visiting it again soon as ITIL 3 spreads across the market.

To help celebrate this launch Register Books is offering the brand new ITIL 3 titles at 10 per cent off the RRP*. The new approach changes the relationship between IT and business. Whereas before, ITIL worked to align service management with business strategy, V3 integrates into a single ecosystem. Other developments include New IT strategies, for outsourcing and co-sourcing, for example; new concepts such as a new Service Knowledge Management System that helps transform captured information into organisational intelligence; new processes such as request fulfillment; process expansion, such as event management; new practice areas and organisational structures, and new methods of delivering ITIL.

• The Official Introduction to the ITIL Service Lifecycle (http://books.theregister.co.uk/catalog/browse.asp?ref=833586&advert=itil3article)
  This official introduction is your gateway to ITIL. It explains the basic concept of IT service management and the place of ITIL, introducing the new lifecycle model, which puts into context all the familiar ITIL processes from the earlier books. It also serves to illuminate the background of the new ITIL structure. This title introduces ITSM and ITIL, explains why the service lifecycle approach is best practice in today's ITSM, and makes a persuasive case for change.
• ITIL Lifecycle Core Library Service Strategy (http://books.theregister.co.uk/catalog/browse.asp?ref=833533&advert=itil3article)
  Service Strategy provides guidance on developing service-based business models and strategies. It defines the value creating contexts and principles of service management that shape decisions, policies and processes across the ITIL Service Lifecycle. Service Strategy defines the objectives, resources and constraints within which services and the relationships they define with customers are to be managed.
• ITIL Lifecycle Core Library Service Design (http://books.theregister.co.uk/catalog/browse.asp?ref=833548&advert=itil3article)
  Service Design is about ensuring that services are designed to align and match the current and future requirements of the business. This title provides guidance on the production and maintenance of IT policies, architectures, processes, systems and documents for the design of appropriate and innovative IT service solutions and processes.
• ITIL Lifecycle Core Library Service Transition (http://books.theregister.co.uk/catalog/browse.asp?ref=833552&advert=itil3article)
  Service Transition provides guidance on delivering change to the service portfolio and through the service lifecycle. It covers how the requirements of Service Strategy encoded in Service Design are effectively realised in Service Operations while controlling the risks of failure and disruption. The success of Service Transition lies in the ability of Service Operations to support the business processes via the installed service base and the ability of Continual Service Improvement to measure the new or changed service.
• ITIL Lifecycle Core Library Service Operation (http://books.theregister.co.uk/catalog/browse.asp?ref=833567&advert=itil3article)
  Service Operation is about delivering on the promises made during the Strategy and Design phases of the Service Lifecycle. It achieves this by making sure that the people, processes and technology that deliver IT Services are all working to the same set of objectives.
• ITIL Lifecycle Core Library Continual Service Improvement (http://books.theregister.co.uk/catalog/browse.asp?ref=833571&advert=itil3article)
  Continual Service Improvement (CSI) is, as its name implies, an ongoing practice that is woven into the fabric of an organisation as opposed to a reactive response to a specific situation or a temporary crisis. Whether an organisation is making large scale or incremental improvements, it is the role of every person in the IT department to identify opportunities to improve services and IT Service Management processes.
• ITIL Lifecycle Publication Suite: Core publications collection (http://books.theregister.co.uk/catalog/browse.asp?ref=833622&advert=itil3article)
  This collection of books encompasses the individual titles that make up the ITIL lifecycle publications. Bought as a collection this product can provide substantial cost savings over the individual purchase of the five lone titles.

Our ITIL 3 dedicated page can be found here (http://books.theregister.co.uk/itil3.asp?advert=itil3articlepage).

For more information on Best-Management-Practice please visit the Best-Management-Practice site (http://www.best-management-practice.com?&trackid=001681). ®

* Offer correct at time of going to press. Offer covers selected titles only
* Source: ITIL Refresh News 3rd Edition - Lifecycle Launch. To register for the Newsletter and elert service simply complete the form located here (http://www.best-management-practice.com/ITILRefreshRegister).