The Direction process category provides guidance on the external technology marketplace, aligns the IT outcomes to support the business strategy, minimizes risk exposures, and manages the IT architecture and IT portfolio. Using the business strategy, related business requirements, and overall technology trends as key inputs, this process category creates an IT Strategy within the manageable constraints of the existing IT architecture and portfolio. In addition to the IT strategy, the IT portfolio and IT architecture are planned, created, implemented, monitored, and continuously improved within this process category. Items put forward for inclusion in the IT portfolio are managed throughout their life cycle using product management approaches well established in many industries.
The IT portfolio includes all items managed to deliver the IT strategy, including, but not limited to, the services published to clients through the service catalog, internal services executed within the IT organization, and new and established development initiatives. Moreover, the process category supplies the IT organization with a Project Management process to manage initiatives driven by the IT strategy, such as development projects. Finally, risks to the IT organization, such as those posed by regulatory requirements, are prioritized and managed through risk mitigation plans.
Processes in the Direction Category
Processes and brief description
| ID |
Name |
Brief Description |
| A31 |
IT Strategy |
Set the goals and decide on areas of change, for IT capability to support the business strategy. |
| A32 |
IT Research and Innovation |
Identify new developments in technology, methods and solutions that have potential business value; conduct research into their applicability and benefit; and promote viable, innovative concepts in support of business objectives. |
| A33 |
Architecture Management |
Create, maintain, promote, and govern the use of IT architecture models and standards, across and within a business' change programs. |
| A34 |
Risk Management |
Identify risks associated with the activities of the IT endeavor and take measured, appropriate actions to mitigate those risks to the desired level of risk tolerance. |
| A35 |
Product Management |
Manage the lifecycle of an IT product |
| A36 |
Portfolio Management |
Manage the set of development projects and ongoing delivery services that are part of the IT budget. |
| A37 |
Program and Project Management |
Plan, organize, monitor, and control all aspects of a project in a continuous process to achieve its objectives. |
* Part of PRM-IT, but not core to ITSM. The process is described at a summary level. |
