ITIL : Who Should Raise A Change?

Raising a change within an organization's IT service management framework is a critical process that involves careful consideration and collaboration among various stakeholders. The decision to initiate a change is influenced by the need to improve, optimize, or address issues within IT services, and it requires the involvement of individuals with specific roles and responsibilities.

Here's an overview of who should raise a change within the ITIL framework:

• Change Initiator: The change initiator is typically an individual who identifies the need for a change. This could be an IT professional, a user, a customer, or a stakeholder who recognizes a potential enhancement or a resolution to an existing problem. The change initiator's role is to communicate the proposed change and its rationale to the appropriate channels within the organization.

• Service Desk and Incident Management: ITIL emphasizes the importance of incident management and the service desk as crucial touchpoints for change initiation. Service desk personnel are often the first to receive user incident reports or service requests. The service desk can initiate the change process if an incident highlights a recurring issue or suggests a need for process improvement.

• Problem Management: Problem management is pivotal in identifying the root causes of incidents and recurring issues. When problem management identifies a systemic problem that requires a change to prevent its recurrence, they can initiate the change process to address the underlying cause.

• Business Users and Customers: Business users and customers are essential stakeholders who can raise changes based on their evolving needs or business requirements. They provide valuable insights into how IT services can better align with business objectives, ensuring that a focus on delivering value drives changes.

• Technical and Operational Teams: Technical and operational teams, such as infrastructure, network, and application teams, often have a deep understanding of the IT environment. They can identify opportunities for optimization, performance improvements, or the implementation of new technologies that can drive positive changes within the organization.

• Change Advisory Board (CAB): The CAB is a cross-functional group responsible for reviewing and approving proposed changes. While not responsible for initiating changes, the CAB is crucial in evaluating change requests, assessing their potential impacts, and providing recommendations for approval or rejection.

• Change Management Team: In some organizations, a dedicated team oversees the end-to-end change management process. This team may initiate changes based on trends, data analysis, or business needs identified through ongoing monitoring and assessment.

In essence, anyone identifying an opportunity for improvement, optimization, or resolving an issue within IT services can raise a change. Effective communication, collaboration, and adherence to the organization's change management process are essential. By involving the right stakeholders and following ITIL's guidelines, organizations can ensure that changes are well-informed, well-documented, and thoroughly evaluated before implementation.