Change and Configuration Service Management Function

Published: April 25, 2008   |   Updated: October 10, 2008

 

Position of the Change and Configuration SMF Within the MOF IT Service Lifecycle

The MOF IT service lifecycle encompasses all of the activities and processes involved in managing an IT service: its conception, development, operation, maintenance, and—ultimately—its retirement. MOF organizes these activities and processes into Service Management Functions (SMFs), which are grouped together in lifecycle phases. Each SMF is anchored within a lifecycle phase and contains a unique set of goals and outcomes supporting the objectives of that phase. The SMFs can be used as stand-alone sets of processes, but it is when SMFs are used together that they are most effective in ensuring service delivery at the desired quality and risk levels.

The Change and Configuration SMF belongs to the Manage Layer, the foundation of the MOF IT service lifecycle. The following figure shows the place of the Change and Configuration SMF within the Manage Layer, as well as the location of the Manage Layer within the IT service lifecycle.

Figure 1. Position of the Change and Configuration SMF within the IT service lifecycle

Before you use this SMF, you may want to read the following MOF 4.0 guidance to learn more about the MOF IT service lifecycle and the Manage Phase:

• MOF Overview
• Manage Layer Overview

Why Use the Change and Configuration SMF

This SMF should be useful for anyone who wants to understand and gain control over the changes made in IT.

It addresses how to do the following:

• Manage changes.
• Know the current state of configuration at all times.
• Reduce risk of negative impact from changes to the organization.