The move to Global recognition for Individuals in Service Management

Welcome from the ISM President
Matthew Burrows

On 14th February 2011, the ISM and itSMF UK confirmed their full participation in the global priSM credentialing programme which is being rolled out globally by itSMF International.

priSM stands for Professional Recognition for IT Service Management, and is a credentialing scheme owned by itSMF International. Following a pilot implementation of priSM during 2010, itSMF International confirmed the intention to rollout priSM globally, offering participation to all itSMF chapters. Both the itSMF UK and ISM have been working hard behind the scenes to support priSM as it has been developed, and fully support this international transition. Most significantly priSM provides a single industry standard for the global credentialing of IT Service Management professionals, regardless of their home country.

With priSM imminently being rolled out within the UK and a number of other countries, this has a number of immediate impacts upon the ISM and your current membership of the Institute. We have detailed these here, but if your questions have not been addressed by this information, please see the contact details at the end of this message.

With immediate effect, we will no longer be accepting new membership applications, renewals or upgrade requests for the ISM. Once the transition period ends on 31st August 2011, arrangements will be made to close the ISM, and from that date the currently used ISM-based post-nominal letters will be discontinued and will no longer be recognised. The ISM will continue to provide member benefits and services, such as Mentoring and Events, throughout the transition period. Of course UK priSM and itSMF UK communications will continue to those individuals who have transitioned to priSM.

We hope that the majority (if not all) of the current ISM membership will want to transition into priSM, and there a “transition window” from 14th February to 31st August 2011 to undertake this.

Members of the ISM have been deeply involved in designing and rolling out priSM, and will be involved in the on-going governance. This is an exciting initiative that extends the benefits experienced by ISM members, creating a global standardised scheme which incorporates the ISM experience and knowledge, and makes it available to the whole itSMF community around the world.

As always, I encourage you to make contact with me and/or the team at the itSMF UK office.

The itSMF UK office will be the administrative hub for the EMEA Regional priSM Institute. Emails can be sent to the office using the following email address:
admin-emea@itsmf.co.uk or call on +44(0)118 918 6500