ITIL: Who Is Kidding Who?

It was with interest, tempered by low expectation, that we read the recent comments from APMG (Computing Magazine) with reference to ITIL training. Two in particular attracted our attention:

1. "Every training company we've spoken to is in favor of this level of assessment as they object to organizations that are offering ITIL training that are not accredited."

This is rather odd, considering that every training company WE have spoken to is not in favor of this change. In fact, when push comes to shove, neither were they in favor of APMG's 'appointed' role in this market. So exactly WHO have they been speaking to?

Clearly different sources to ourselves! Perhaps APMG might tell us, in the interests of clarity. The comment button is below.

2. "The last thing the market wants is competing products"

No, Mr Pharro. The last thing the market wants is a monopoly, controlled by a profit driven body. We have seen previously what happens in this sort of arena when this occurs, haven't we (Prince2 perhaps?). I rather think that this is an occasion upon which the vast majority will consider that competition is definitely healthy.

These sorts of statements, using unsubstantiated allies such as "the market" and "every training company", tend not to carry full credibility in serious journalistic quarters. Perhaps someone ought to tell APMG therefore that they would be better advised focusing directly upon substance, and at the very least, clearly substantiate references when used.


On wider ITIL issues, it would also be nice to see them comment upon how they intend to embrace the reality of the open movement, or perhaps how they intend to encourage the free entrepreneurial enterprise that has taken ITIL to where it is today. We suspect that we may be waiting quite a while for this.