Change Approval Process in ITIL Change Management

ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) change management outlines the best practices and framework that help companies manage and execute changes to the IT infrastructure and system. There are various types of ITIL change management practices that help companies reduce the disruption and risk caused by the changes in IT systems. However, they make sure that the changes should streamlined with the company’s goals and objectives. Today, we’ll discuss the change approval process in ITIL change management; steps involved in the process, reasons for importance, benefits, and challenges.

Change approval ITIL change management is the method of analyzing, scheduling, and authorizing the changes to the IT infrastructure and system. It comprises a formal process of evaluating the impact, risk analysis, and feasibility of proposed changes and deciding whether to approve or reject the changes based on the predefined criteria.

However, the change approval is the key element in the ITIL change management. It comprises planning the proposed changes, testing, and executing the changes in the controlled environment; it helps them to reduce the risk of disruption and makes sure that it aligns with the company’s goals and objectives to meet the needs of stakeholders with limited risks.

Steps Involved in Change Approval Process in ITIL Change Management

Let’s discuss the main steps involved in the change approval process in ITIL change management; they’re as follows;

Sending Change Request

The IT department recognizes the need for the change project and explains the reasons for changes. An individual from the department would send the formal change request to the changes in the IT infrastructure and system. However, it comprises information about the proposed changes, the reasons and the scope for the change project, and its impact on the company. The change request of ITIL change management comprises the following;

• Tech specifications like hardware and software requirements
• Configuration setting and its reliance on the system
• Start and end date of the changes, and deadlines for meeting the goals and objectives
• Analyzing all the risks attached to the change project like delays and data loss

Initial Analysis

The change advisory board and the change manager perform the initial analysis to find the validity and the potential impact of the change request. They make sure that the change request is complete and it complies with the company’s protocols. They would test and verify that the change request has all the necessary information the scope and reasons for change and its impact on the company.

In-depth Evaluation by CAB

The CAB would analyze the change request thoroughly and in-depth and it should be valid during the initial analysis stage. The CAB team comprises representatives from various departments within the company like operations, finance, IT, and others. However, the CAB review process allows companies to make sure that they thoroughly analyze and authorize the changes before their execution.

• Evaluates the change request to ensure that it aligns with the company’s goals and objectives and the risks it poses to the IT infrastructure
• Gathering feedback from multiple stakeholders impacted by the changes
• Performing the risk analysis of the change request like analyzing the potential risks and benefits
• Makes sure that the change request complies with the standards and regulations
• CAB decides whether to approve or reject the change request

Executing changes

After the approval of the change request, the next step is to execute the changes. The implementation and execution of changes comprise various steps like planning, preparation, recovery, backup, implementation, review, and closure.

Validation and Verification of Changes

The name implies that the validation and verification of the changes would ensure that the implemented changes are in an exact and precise manner. It is the key step in the change management process to ensure that the changes are successful and meet the company’s goals and objectives with limited risks.

Benefits of Change Approval Process

Some of the main benefits and reasons for the importance of the change approval process, they’re as follows;

• Makes sure that the changes streamline with the company’s strategy, goals, and objectives and they support the business rather than resist the changes
• Consulting with stakeholders allows them that the changes meet the needs, demands, and expectations of stakeholders.
• Reduces risks and disruption by making sure that they efficiently receive the changes
• Subject various types of laws, regulations, and standards focusing on making changes to the IT system
• Helping companies to ensure their compliance with regulatory standards
• Offers a roadmap and a guide to make changes to the IT system
• Becomes easier to recognize, analyze, and reduce the impact of the issue

Challenges of Change Approval Process in ITIL Change Management

Let’s discuss the main challenges of the change approval process in ITIL change management; they’re as follows;

Not Following the Protocol

It is highly difficult to make sure that you can execute the changes efficiently in a controlled environment without properly following the protocol and standards. It results in the form of delays, disruption, and errors.

Lower Governance

It is highly difficult to make sure that the changes should streamline with the company’s goals and objectives with limited risks and it should meet the needs and demands of stakeholders; without properly governing it.

Limited Collaboration and Communication

It is nearly impossible to develop a plan, test, and execute the changes that would cause errors and delays without communicating and collaborating with various team members from multiple departments.

Lower Knowledge and Experience

It is highly difficult to perform the risk analysis of ITIL changes and approve changes without having knowledge and expertise in ITIL change management. It could result in the form of higher risk and poor decision-making.

Limited Resources

It is also difficult to develop a plan, test, and execute the changes with limited resources. It could result in the form of errors and higher delays.

Lower Involvement of Stakeholders

It is difficult to make sure that the changes streamline with the company’s goals and objectives and satisfy the demands of stakeholders; when you don’t involve stakeholders in the change approval process.

Lower visibility

It is difficult to have visibility and transparency to the change request status, without having a proper tracking and reporting mechanism. It could result in the form of delays and poor communication.

Limited Standardization

The change approval process could be inconsistent without having a proper standardized process in place. It may result in the form of errors and high delays.

Conclusion: Change Approval Process in ITIL Change Management

After an in-depth study of the change approval process in ITIL change management; we have realized that the change approval process is significant for the execution of changes. If you are learning about ITIL change management; then you should keep in mind the abovementioned steps involved in the process, benefits, and challenges.