We want to create a Service Catalogue: Where do we start?
Essentially the Service Catalogue is a document or a database that contains key information about the key IT services that a business can offer to its users and customers.
To create a Service Catalogue, the following points need to be addressed:
1. Understand why the Service Catalogue is required, ie what are you going to use it for.
Examples where Service Catalogues are used include:
- We need it in order to be able to use in the next contract negotiation with our customer, or
- We need it so that our users know what services they can order.
2. Assign an owner and resources to ensure that this work is completed. The use of project management principles to ensure that the work is scheduled and completed will be an advantage.
3. Create a policy for the Service Catalogue to ensure that the guidance and governance aspects are defined
4. Define the services and create service definitions and descriptions. This is the activity that will more than likely take the most effort and will therefore be significant in duration.
5. Involve your customer!! It is advisable to make the customer part of this exercise. After all, who is going to be a primary user of the Service Catalogue?
6. Manage expectations: The creation of the Service Catalogue is not something that will be done within a week or two (depending on the number of services of course)
The points above will provide the springboard to get you going in terms of the creation of a Service Catalogue.
