Predecessors/Before You BeginThe concept of a "Service Asset" is part of the ITIL v3 book Service Strategy. "Service assets" are a strategic concept, but not an ITIL process. Service AssetsIn defining an IT department's strategy, it can be helpful to understand what sorts of "assets" the department has, or could acquire. ITIL v3 groups assets into two groups, "capabilities" and "resources." The concept of "service assets" helps in creating a department strategy, because it helps planners understand how various assets might need to be developed to underpin the strategy. Also, strategic planning is often centered around the resources needed rather than the capabilities needed--and resources can be acquired directly while capabilities require significant time and effort to develop. CapabilitiesCapabilities are the things an organization has that it cannot buy outright. Capabilities include what a department's culture allows it to do. A great example of a capability is a process itself: no organization can "buy ITIL"--they can hire consultants, and train people, but the department has to build the process over time. Here are ITIL's five capabilities:
ResourcesResources are the things an organization has that it can pay for directly. Here are ITIL's five resources:
People are listed in both areas, because people can be hired, but people also have capabilities that are developed. |
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