Dear ITSM Professional:
First, I want to wish everyone a happy 2009!
With so many eyes now focused on the economic downturn and bottom line, identifying ways to get more from less is a core competency that can well define whether you and your business prosper. ITIL provides a framework for rationally identifying what IT services should be provided, who should provide them, and how each should be supported in order to achieve tactical and strategic objectives in terms of agreed service levels. Tailored to the specific needs of a business, ITIL provides a means of achieving business differentiation, defending existing markets, and freeing resources to seize new opportunities.
Over the past month, the leaders of your Greater Los Angeles - Local Interest Group (GLA-LIG) have met repeatedly to assess our own performance, where we should improve, and to understand how we need to adjust to meet the changing needs of our members. To this end, we force-ranked critical attributes of successful LIG events and timely themes that focus on problems that span businesses now and, particularly, IT:
Attributes of Successful LIG Events:
1. Knowledge Transfer/Wisdom
2. Proven Success
3. Saves Money/Improve Efficiency
4. Demonstrates IT Value
5. Pragmatic/Sellable
6. Not Self Serving
7. Recognized Expertise
8. Better Business Decisions
9. Adequacy of Process/Tools
10. Fosters IT/Business Relationships
Problem Themes:
1. Inefficient or Ineffective IT Process / Organization
2. IT Service Performance Lags Expectations
3. Freeing Resources To Support Innovation
4. Lack of IT Transparency/IT Not Run Like Business
5. Expectation Management
6. Downsizing & Cost Reduction
7. IT Not Viewed as Part of Business
8. IT Supports Strategic Differentiation in Declining Markets
9. Maximizing Human Capital
10. Conflicting IT/Business Agendas
With this focus for the coming year, we are now looking for speakers who can address aspects of these themes. The GLA-LIG needs our many expert practitioners to come forward and speak. This is an opportunity to share what you have accomplished and, thereby, expand on that expertise. A request for speakers will be arriving in your inbox shortly.
In addition to our large and diverse membership, we will be actively pursuing industry-renowned experts for special presentations and panels.
Like most service-based professions, the economy has adversely affected many of our members. If you have an opportunity within your organization, please look to events sponsored by the GLA-LIG to help make contact with members who can bring a wealth of experience and are seeking employment.
David Howard
President, itSMF GLA-LIG
