What is the Difference Between ITIL V2 and ITIL V3?

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ITIL V2 and ITIL V3 are different versions of the ITIL framework, which is a set of guidelines for IT service management. The main differences between ITIL V2 and ITIL V3 are:

  1. Focus: ITIL V2 focuses on the service produced by the organization, the process of producing it, and the individuals who use it. In contrast, ITIL V3 focuses on the partner involved in the project and adopts a lifecycle-based approach.
  2. Structure: ITIL V3 introduces the Service Lifecycle structure, which organizes the ITIL processes in a more coherent manner.
  3. Processes: ITIL V3 complements the processes known from ITIL V2 with a number of new processes and puts more emphasis on producing value for the business. There are 10 processes and 2 functions in ITIL V2, while ITIL V3 has 26 processes and 4 functions.
  4. Enhancements: ITIL V3 offers revised and enhanced process descriptions for many processes compared to ITIL V2.
  5. Release and Application Development: ITIL V3 provides more details on the various testing stages during Service Transition and application development and customization, while ITIL V2 covered some aspects of release testing within Release Management.

In summary, ITIL V3 builds upon the foundation of ITIL V2 by introducing a lifecycle-based approach, focusing on the partner, and enhancing the structure and processes.

Comparative Table: ITIL V2 vs ITIL V3

The main differences between ITIL V2 and ITIL V3 are:

ITIL V2 ITIL V3
Focuses on processes and service strategy Focuses on the service lifecycle and has a lifecycle-based approach
Emphasizes service design and service strategy Pays equal attention to all processes of the service lifecycle
10 processes and 2 functions 26 processes and 4 functions
Process-oriented approach Lifecycle-based approach
Service Management is a part of Evaluation Service Management is a separate process
No clear service lifecycle structure Introduces the ITIL V3 Service Lifecycle structure

In summary, ITIL V3 introduces a lifecycle-based approach and focuses on the entire service lifecycle, while ITIL V2 emphasizes service design and service strategy. ITIL V3 also introduces a new structure called the ITIL V3 Service Lifecycle, which includes Service Strategy, Service Design, Service Transition, Service Operation, and Continual Service Improvement.