3.5 Tailoring: Adapting ITIL with Principles for Your Organization

Phase 3: Application – Practices and Value Streams Driving Professional Results

ITIL is a framework, not a rigid standard. It is designed to be adopted and adapted to fit the specific needs and context of an organization. The Guiding Principles are your most important tools for tailoring ITIL effectively.

How to Tailor Using Principles:

• Start Where You Are: Begin with your current processes and culture, rather than trying to implement a textbook version of ITIL from scratch.
• Keep It Simple and Practical: Don't implement unnecessary processes or bureaucracy. Focus on what adds value in your context.
• Focus on Value: Ensure that any tailoring decisions are driven by the need to create value for your specific stakeholders.
• Progress Iteratively: Implement changes incrementally and gather feedback on what's working in your environment.
• Think and Work Holistically: Consider how any tailoring will impact the entire SVS and the Four Dimensions in your organization.
• Collaborate and Promote Visibility: Involve relevant stakeholders in the tailoring process to ensure buy-in and identify potential issues.
• Optimize and Automate: Use tailoring as an opportunity to optimize existing processes before considering automation, ensuring the solutions fit your context.

Practical Application: Simply copying ITIL processes from a book will likely fail. Successful ITIL adoption involves thoughtful tailoring based on your organization's culture, size, complexity, and specific needs. As a professional, understanding how to adapt ITIL makes you a more valuable asset.