David Wheeldon, Colin Rudd, Shirley Lacy and Ashley Hanna are now working alongside industry-leading publisher TSO in their new roles in the ITIL update.

The task of the mentors is to coach, advise and review the work of the authors updating the five core ITIL publications and the ‘Introduction to the ITIL Service Lifecycle’.

Wheeldon is mentoring the authors working on the ITIL volumes ‘Service Strategy’ and ‘Continual Service Improvement’. He was author himself of several of the original ITIL Version 1 books, joint author of the Version 2 ‘Service Delivery’ publication and joint author of the current Version 3 ‘Service Operation’ book.

Rudd takes on the role of mentoring the authors updating the remaining three core ITIL volumes: ‘Service Design’, ‘Service Transition’ and ‘Service Operation’. Director of IT Enterprise Management Services, Rudd was co-author of the ITIL Version 3 ‘Service Design’ publication and has delivered IT service management (ITSM) training and consultancy worldwide.

Lacy becomes the project mentor, in an overarching role to ensure consistency throughout the books. She will also directly mentor the author of the ‘Introduction to the ITIL Service Lifecycle’ update. Managing Director of ConnectSphere, Lacy was co-author of the ITIL Version 3 ‘Service Transition’ book and she has been an active contributor to the development of international standards.

As technical continuity editor, Hanna will mainly be responsible for ensuring the correctness and consistency of diagrams and definitions throughout ITIL. Hanna will therefore not only liaise with the authors but will also work with the TSO editorial, production and graphic design staff. Hanna contributed as an author to ITIL Version 2 and was co-author of the ITIL Version 3 ‘Glossary of Terms, Definitions and Acronyms’.

The new, updated editions of all the ITIL Version 3 core publications will be released in early 2011. There are no current plans for ITIL Version 4.

Janine Eves, OGC Contract Manager and Publisher at TSO, says: “Choosing the right mentors for this project was a vital task. We needed to find people with experience and understanding of the ITIL materials to date, as well as a knowledge of the ITIL community and environment. As such, we are delighted to welcome David, Colin, Shirley and Ashley into their new roles.

“In each case, there needs to be a strong relationship between the mentor and the author. The mentor is there to support, motivate and encourage, as well as asking questions and providing insights.

“This update process will help to ensure that TSO’s core ITIL Version 3 publications continue to offer the highest quality guidance for ITSM.”

More information about the update to ITIL Version 3 can be found in the ‘OGC Mandate for Change’.

The company is offering a 30% discount on ITG-branded training courses on subjects ranging from ISO27001 to digital forensics. The huge discount applies to all ITG-branded courses when booked in December to take place in January.

Alan Calder, Chief Executive of IT Governance, says: “The expert content of our courses brings exceptional value at any time, but these discounts represent an unbeatable offer. Anybody taking one of our courses in January will start the New Year with a whole new set of skills to employ.”

The two latest additions to the extensive ITG-branded training portfolio are ‘Understanding Business Continuity Management Best Practice and the BS25999 Standard’ and the ‘ISO27001 Certificated Lead Auditor Training Course’.

Established ITG-branded courses include a one-day implementation and compliance masterclass for the payment card industry data security standard (PCI DSS), which takes the uncertainty and fear out of meeting the standard’s requirements. A one-day ‘Digital Forensics Classroom Training Course’ covers everything from the prevention of data leakage to damage limitation following a computer incident in the workplace. IT Governance also offers a two-day COBIT 4.1 Foundation Course.

Further ITG-branded courses in the field of ISO27001 include ‘ISO27001 ISMS Implementation Masterclass Training Course’, ‘Certificated ISO27001 Internal Auditor Training’ and ‘Foundations of Information Security Management According to ISO27001′. The company also offers a three-day course on the implementation of ISO20000 (including a unique ‘pass guarantee’; anyone who does not pass will be offered free attendance at a future course).

As well as the programme of classroom courses, IT Governance offers bespoke training through expert and experienced personnel.

Full details of all IT Governance’s services and products can be found at: www.itgovernance.co.uk.

The event will be held in the Swissôtel Düsseldorf from December 1-2. Best Management Practice comprises The Stationery Office (TSO), which is the official IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL®) publisher, as well as the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) and the official ITIL accreditor APMG.

The itSMF Germany Annual Conference will focus on ways of adding value in the fields of Service Strategy, Service Operation and Service Transition. There will be over 30 specialist lectures from experts in economics, industry and public administration.

Janine Eves, OGC Contract Manager and Publisher of TSO, says: “International events such as itSMF Germany allow us further opportunities to spread the word about ITIL. The principles and benefits of good IT service management (ITSM) are truly global.”

Launched in 1989, ITIL has been respected worldwide as an industry-standard source of ITSM guidance ever since. Initially consisting of more than 40 books, ITIL Version 1 covered a variety of IT practices. Streamlining allowed ITIL Version 2 to be released as 10 books and the best practice framework for ITSM. ITIL Version 3 was published in June 2007, updating best practice for ITSM with five titles – ‘Service Strategy’, ‘Service Design’, ‘Service Transition’, ‘Service Operation’ and ‘Continual Service Improvement’ – now forming the core of ITIL practice. OGC will continue to update the core ITIL Version 3 guidance through controlled releases in the future.

To celebrate ITIL’s 20th birthday this year, TSO’s ITIL titles are being discounted by 20% throughout November when ordered online at: http://www.best-management-practice.com.

For further information about the itSMF Germany Annual Conference 2009, please visit: http://www.itsmf.de.

6 November 2009: Industry-leading publisher The Stationery Office (TSO) will be celebrating the 20th birthday of the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL®) at the 18th Annual IT Service Management Forum Conference and Exhibition (itSMF UK 2009).

Best Management Practice (which comprises official ITIL publisher TSO, the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) and the official ITIL accreditor APMG) is exhibiting at the event.

Looking back on the development of ITIL, and ahead at the developments to come, will be the focus of TSO’s presence at itSMF UK 2009, to be held in the Hilton Birmingham Metropole from November 9-10. Delegates are invited to come and meet the Best Management Practice ITIL team in the Palace Suite on Stand P36/37, where the birthday celebrations will include the official cake-cutting ceremony by Best Management Practice Director Jonathan Shebioba on Tuesday November 10.

Away from itSMF UK 2009 itself, the ITIL birthday celebrations include a 20% discount offer on direct orders via www.best-management-practice.com, plus a free set of ITIL ‘Key Element Guides’, written by the original authoring team for the ITIL Version 3 project, when taking out a concurrent licence.

Launched in 1989, ITIL has been globally respected as an industry-standard source of IT service management (ITSM) guidance ever since. Initially consisting of more than 40 books, ITIL Version 1 covered a variety of IT practices. Streamlining allowed ITIL Version 2 to be released as 10 books and the best practice framework for ITSM. ITIL Version 3 was published in June 2007, updating best practice for ITSM with five titles – ‘Service Strategy’, ‘Service Design’, ‘Service Transition’, ‘Service Operation’ and ‘Continual Service Improvement’ – now forming the core of ITIL practice. OGC will continue to update the core ITIL Version 3 guidance through controlled releases in the future.

Janine Eves, OGC Contract Manager and Publisher of TSO, says: “The benefits of good IT service management become very apparent in a recession. ITIL is arguably even more important now than when it was launched 20 years ago. By always taking into account the latest best practice developments, we can ensure the core ITIL guidance remains vital for at least another 20 years!”

The theme of itSMF UK 2009, which will include 60 seminars and interactive sessions, will be ‘Optimising IT Services for Business Success’. Over 1,200 delegates from more than 45 nations are expected to attend. For further information about itSMF UK 2009, please visit: www.itsmf.co.uk.