ALM as Communication
ALM boasts many best practices that can instantly improve communication between all stakeholders. This may be as simple as communicating which tasks need to be completed and by whom. ITIL also provides a powerful structure for communicating through its excellent change management structure. ITIL/ITSM helps the team communicate more effectively by providing a set of common practices that everyone can understand and follow. Both ALM and ITIL/ITSM provide guidance, but the simple fact is that it takes dedicated people to get the job done and some of them need to provide the requisite leadership.
Identifying Leaders
Every organization needs its change agents, and that is true in implementing ALM and ITIL/ITSM, as well. Savvy managers need to identify which members of their team can play an effective role as leaders. Others may be better suited as the negotiators who help the other members of the team reach consensus. As manager, you need to make wise choices in empowering members of your team to be effective.
References
[1] Aiello, Robert and Leslie Sachs. Configuration Management Best Practices: Practical Methods that Work in the Real World. Addison-Wesley, 2010, p. 156.
[2] [1] Aiello, Robert and Leslie Sachs. Configuration Management Best Practices: Practical Methods that Work in the Real World. Addison-Wesley, 2010, p. 157.
[3] The Structure and Dynamics of the Psyche (Collected Works of C.G. Jung, Volume 8), C. G. Jung Princeton University Press; 2 edition, 1970
Conclusion
Effective implementation of process models like ALM and ITIL/ITSM require the right set of tools, especially in terms of the personalities who will perform these roles. Managers need to consider these people issues to select the right mix of players who can be effective at implementing these practices.
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About the author
Leslie Sachs is a New York state certified school psychologist and the COO of Yellow Spider, Inc. (http://yellowspiderinc.com). Leslie is the coauthor of Configuration Management Best Practices: Practical Methods that Work in the Real World, Addison-Wesley Professional (http://cmbestpractices.com). Ms. Sachs has more than twenty years of experience in the psychology field and has worked in a variety of clinical and business settings where she has provided many effective interventions designed to improve the social and educational functioning of both individuals and groups. Ms. Sachs has an M.S. in School Psychology from Pace University and interned in Bellevue's Psychiatric Center in New York city. A firm believer in the uniqueness of every individual, she has recently done advanced training with Mel Levine's "All Kinds of Minds" Institute. She may be reached at LeslieASachs@gmail.com, or link with her http://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliesachs.
