ITS PRO Service Operation Ontology

It is important to track all effort across Project work and Service Operations work. Conveniently, the IT Services methodology is very similar for both work types.

Standardizing the service operations tracking process allows us to measure and track efforts consistently, and use data to anticipate problems or resource needs. Ultimately, it leads to improved customer service and a proven track record.

IT Services has adopted a simple methodology based on breaking down a service operations work into “what is being delivered” and “how it will be delivered”, dubbed the ITS PRO Ontology for Service Operations.

These are the key elements for service operations tracking:

  1. OBJECTS: The tangible service offering or product being delivered to end-users. They are described using a noun, and are named after the service offering in the service catalog or operational documents used to support the service.

  2. ACTIVITY: The action required to produce the deliverable. Activities are described using a verb. Examples of specific activities: Conduct end user training for Campus CMS, Resolve incident for Office 365.

Standard objects for Service Operations work:

Object Name

Object Type

Note

Sample Activity

Object Name

Object Type

Note

Sample Activity

Roadmap for ServiceName

Roadmap

Used to track all activities related to creating, updating, and tracking a Service roadmap. Note: More info about Roadmap requirements can be found on the Service Owner Checklist [Archived 4/4/22].

  • Create & maintain roadmap for ServiceName

CSI Plan for ServiceName

CSIPlan

Used to manage Continual Service Improvement (CSI) Plan, including creation of CSI plan, identifying opportunities for improvement, as well as defining & tracking key measures, and ultimately enhancing/improving service. Note: More info about Service Optimization and Improvement requirements can be found on the Service Owner Checklist [Archived 4/4/22]

  • Create & maintain CI Plan for ServiceName

  • Run reports and measure improvements for ServiceName

Communication for ServiceName

CommArtifact

Capture all activities related to documentation, training, and outreach for a Service. Note: More info about Communication & Awareness requirements for a Service can be found on the Service Owner Checklist [Archived 4/4/22]

  • Update website content for ServiceName

  • Conduct satisfaction survey for ServiceName

PR: ID - ProblemName

ProblemReport

Used to manage all activities related to conducting Problem Reviews and generation Problem Reports for a Service. Note: More info about Problem Review requirements can be found on the Service Owner Checklist [Archived 4/4/22]

  • Conduct Problem Review for ServiceName

ServiceOfferingName



Select appropriate Object Type

For handling service incidents, answering customer questions, and service requests for a specific service offering

  • Provide end-user support for ServiceOfferingName

Example Service operation structure

Example #1:

Service Name: Email & Calendaring

Service Offerings: Exchange Online, Gmail, Email Forwarding, Alumni email, Mailman mailing list, 

Object Name

Object Type

Activities**

Object Name

Object Type

Activities**

Roadmap for Email & Calendaring

Roadmap

  • Create & maintain roadmap for Email & Calendaring

CSI Plan for Email & Calendaring

CSIPlan

  • Create & maintain CSI Plan for Email & Calendaring

  • Run reports and measure improvements for Email & Calendaring

Communication for Email & Calendaring

CommArtifact

  • Update Blink content for Email & Calendaring

  • Conduct satisfaction survey for Email & Calendaring

  • Conduct training session for Email & Calendaring

PR: PRB0000039 - Email delays

ProblemReport

  • Conduct Problem Review for PRB0000039

PR: PRB0000069 - Gmail not reaching campus email servers

ProblemReport

  • Conduct Problem Review for PRB0000069

Office365 Outlook

AppInstance

  • Provide end-user support for Office365 Outlook

Gmail

AppInstance

  • Provide end-user support for Gmail

Email & Calendaring Services

Note: if support for multiple offerings are often treated together, then an object like this one can be created to track all support work for a group of offerings.

AppInstance

  • Provide end-user support for all Email & Calendaring Services

Tracking After Action Reviews

Since After Action Reviews may touch several service areas, they will be managed in a dedicated AAR space in ITS-PRO (After Action Reviews). Each AAR will have it's own object as follows:

Object Name

Object Type

Tasks

Object Name

Object Type

Tasks

AAR: PRB0000123 - 10,000 Staff email accounts disabled for 3 hours

AARReport

Since AARs are made up of a series of formal managed steps, instead of Activities, Tasks shall be used to assign dates, estimates, and owners

  • Participate in AAR for PRB0000123

  • Generate timeline and event flow of PRB0000123

  • Define cause & effect diagram for PRB0000123

  • Conduct Blue Sky scenario for PRB0000123

  • Document recommendations and outcome of AAR for PRB0000123

Questions? 

Contact the Service Management Office: smo@ucsd.edu