What is this course about?

In this course, you learn how to plan, manage and optimise the Service Strategy processes. Through practical workshops, you gain the knowledge to take the ITIL Intermediate Qualification: Service Strategy Certification Exam.

Who will benefit from this course?

This course is valuable for those who want to achieve the ITIL Intermediate Qualification: Service Strategy Certificate. This course is also valuable for those who need a detailed understanding of the ITIL Service Strategy phase of the ITIL core lifecycle, including CIOs, CTOs, managers, supervisory staff, team leaders, designers, architects, planners, IT consultants, IT audit managers and IT security managers.

Which ITIL topics are covered in this course?

The Service Strategy Certificate covers the following ITIL processes:

• Service Strategy principles
• Defining services and market spaces
• Conducting strategic assessments
• Financial Management
• Service Portfolio Management
• Managing demand
• Driving strategy through the Service Lifecycle
• Understanding Critical Success Factors and risks

What background do I need?

You must hold the ITIL v3 Foundation Certificate or the v3 Foundation Bridge Certificate to attend the course and take the ITIL Certification Exam on the final day of class.

It is also strongly recommended that you complete the pre-course work, which includes reading the Key Element Guide Service Strategy, reviewing the certification syllabus and reading the ITIL Service Strategy book in advance of attending the course.

Does this course count toward the ITIL Expert certification?

Yes. Once you achieve the ITIL Intermediate Qualification: Service Strategy, you earn three credits toward the ITIL Expert certification. To achieve the ITIL Expert certification, you need to earn a minimum of 22 credits.

The APMG has released the ITIL Credit Profiler: http://www.itil-officialsite.com/itilservices/v1/map.asp. This online tool allows you to map your current v2 and v3 qualifications against the v3 scheme. The Credit Profiler helps you determine how many credits you currently hold within the scheme, and to assess and decide on the best route for v3 certification. This tool also provides recommendations, and you are free to choose a selection of modules based on your own educational and certification requirements.

What's the difference between the Lifecycle and Capability certificates?

The Lifecycle and Capability certificates comprise the two streams, or branches, of the ITIL v3 intermediate-level qualification scheme.

The Lifecycle stream-which includes the Service Strategy qualification-consists of five modules or certifications. These certifications focus on the Service Lifecycle, the use of process and practice within the lifecycle and developing the skills needed to deliver quality Service Management practices in an organisation.

The Capability certificates, which are made up of four modules, are geared toward those who want a thorough understanding of v3 processes and roles. The primary focus is on activities, execution and use of the processes throughout the entire Service Lifecycle.

How much time is spent on each topic?

What kinds of activities are in this course?

Practical assignments offer you multiple opportunities to apply recently learned concepts. In addition, this course includes practice exams. Approximately 25 percent of the course is spent on practical assignments, practice exams and other activities.

How much time do I have to take the exam and what's the pass score?

You have 90 minutes to complete the multiple-choice, scenario-based exam. You must correctly answer 70% of the questions to pass.

Is this course accredited?

Yes! APMG, the official ITIL accreditor, has accredited this course and the instructors who teach it as providing high-quality training in IT Service Management.

Is this course applicable to a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification?

Yes. Although this course is not designed as preparation for the exam, it is beneficial to anyone working toward PMI's PMP certification. For those who are currently certified, completion of this course counts as 19 professional development units (60 units must be completed every three years to maintain certification). For more details, please see the Learning Tree PMI Registered Education Provider Q&A.

If you are an experienced project manager intending to take the PMP exam, you should take Course 276, Preparing for the Project Management Professional (PMP)^® Exam. In this course you learn essential PMBOK^® Guide terminology, tools and techniques. You gain practical test-taking experience through PMI-style practice exams and create your own personal study plan for continued use after the course.

How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses?

The following Learning Tree courses are part of the ITIL v3 Lifecycle stream:

• 991, ITIL® v3 Intermediate Qualification: Service Operation 
• 992, ITIL® v3 Intermediate Qualification: Service Transition 
• 993, ITIL® v3 Intermediate Qualification: Service Design 
• 994, ITIL® v3 Intermediate Qualification: Continual Service Improvement 

The following courses are part of the ITIL v3 Capability stream:

• 995, ITIL® v3 Intermediate Qualification: Operational Support and Analysis 
• 996, ITIL® v3 Intermediate Qualification: Release, Control and Validation 
• 997, ITIL® v3 Intermediate Qualification: Planning, Protection and Optimisation 
• 998, ITIL® v3 Intermediate Qualification: Service Offerings and Agreements 

These ITIL certification courses may also be of interest:

• 983, ITIL® v3 Intermediate Qualification: Managing Across the Lifecycle 
• 197, ITIL® v3: Achieving Foundation Certification 
• 192, ITIL® v3 Foundation Bridge Certificate 

To ensure you have the management skills to implement ITIL within your organisation, you may also want to consider courses from our Project Management, Leadership, Communication and Business Analysis curricula.