Method and computer program product for developing a process-oriented information technology (IT) actionable service catalog for managing lifecycle of services

1. A process-oriented method for developing, via program instructions stored in a memory and executed by a processing unit, an actionable information technology (IT) service catalog in a business environment for managing lifecycle of services through the service catalog, the method comprising:

absorbing service information related to services to be designed, by the processing unit, via service domains defined within an IT service catalog, wherein the service domains represent various lifecycle stages of services from the point of inception of the services to decommission of the services;

designing the services, by the processing unit, within the IT service catalog using service domain components defined in the service domains, the service domain components comprising:

domain processes, process roles, assets and metrics, the domain processes providing procedures for the service domains to perform various activities for managing the services in the various lifecycle stages, the process roles for controlling and monitoring the domain processes, the assets providing service information and facilitating decision making, and the metrics facilitating measurement and improvement of the services;

collecting data, by the processing unit, related to user requirements based on one or more templates defined within the IT service catalog for designing the services;

measuring, by the processing unit, design performance based on the plurality of metrics defined in the IT service catalog and the collected data; and

checking, by the processing unit, if the designed services are aligned with predefined requirements using predetermined checklists defined within the IT service catalog, wherein the steps of absorbing, designing, collecting, measuring and checking within the IT service catalog facilitate the development of the actionable IT service catalog, and further wherein the actionable IT service catalog provides an interface for users to access the services.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein service domains further comprising:

validating the need for the services and gathering the service information, by the processing unit, effectively and timely through structured service engagements;

translating, by the processing unit, the service requirements to design specifications to facilitate an automated request and fulfillment process;

translating, by the processing unit, the service design specifications into configurable service objects and exposing to customers;

improving, by the processing unit, the services in terms of delivery and user experience through a constant cycle of monitoring, reporting and enhancements; and

optimizing, by the processing unit, the services in a cost effective manner by transforming services or decommissioning of services with minimal or no organizational impact.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein validating the need for services further comprising:

engaging stakeholders to communicate, by the processing unit, IT Service Catalog value and build direction for service engagements;

partnering with stakeholders to gather, by the processing unit, accurate and complete service information;

building, by the processing unit, a Point of Arrival (POA) model for services and obtain alignment from Service stakeholders; and

gaining, by the processing unit, alignment on the to-be model and formally obtain sign-off for the service engagement.

4. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein translating the service requirements to design specifications further comprising:

analyzing, by the processing unit, requirements and preparing detailed service design document & workflows; and

validating and signing off, by the processing unit, design document and finalize service implementation plan.

5. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein translating the service design specifications into configurable service objects and exposing to customers further comprising:

building and validating, by the processing unit, mock-ups and configuring services in the service development environment;

conducting, by the processing unit, testing, validating results, fixing defects, tracking and obtaining signoff for test results;

releasing, by the processing unit, services to the production environment and communicating to service stakeholders; and

transitioning, by the processing unit services to support team and provide ongoing support for services and service catalog.

6. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein improving the services in terms of delivery and user experience further comprising:

collecting, by the processing unit, service performance data to identify opportunities for improvement;

validating, by the processing unit, performance data with service stakeholders and collating recommendations;

preparing, by the processing unit, detailed service improvement plan and engage stakeholders as needed; and

executing, by the processing unit, improvements by coordinating with Process teams, service delivery and development teams.

7. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein optimizing the services in a cost effective manner further comprising:

initiating, by the processing unit, decommission by creating decommission request and validating the triggers;

preparing, by the processing unit, decommission plan and obtaining signoff from stakeholders & interface areas; and

executing, by the processing unit, decommission based on readiness levels, document and communicating outcomes.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein domain components further comprising:

processes to provide step by step procedures for the Service Domains to accomplish their objectives and sequence of activities performed to manage services in its lifecycle domains;

metrics for tracking and improvement of services within their Domains using set of defined parameters;

assets to enable decision making and movement of Services through the Service domains; and

process roles to facilitate the end to end flow of services through the Service Domains.

9. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied thereon to develop a process-oriented information technology (IT) actionable service catalog in a business environment for managing lifecycle of services through the service catalog, comprising:

program code operable to absorb services to be designed, via service domains defined within an IT service catalog, wherein the service domains represent various lifecycle stages of services from the point of inception of the services to decommission of the services;

program code operable to design the services within the IT service catalog using service domain components defined in the service domains, the service domain components comprising: domain processes, process roles, assets and metrics, the domain processes providing procedures for the service domains to accomplish various objectives, the process roles for controlling and monitoring the domain processes, the assets providing service information and facilitating decision making, and the metrics facilitating measurement and improvement of the services;

program code operable to collect data related to user requirements based on one or more templates defined within the IT service catalog for designing the services;

program code operable to measure design performance based on the plurality of metrics defined in the IT service catalog and the collected data; and

program code operable to check if the designed services are aligned with predefined requirements using predetermined checklists defined within the IT service catalog, wherein the steps of absorbing, designing, collecting, measuring and checking within the IT service catalog facilitate the development of the actionable IT service catalog, and further wherein the IT service catalog provides an interface for users to access the services.

10. The product of claim 9 , wherein service domains further comprising:

program code operable to validate the need for the services and to gather the service information effectively and timely through structured service engagements;

program code operable to translate the service requirements to design specifications to facilitate an automated request and fulfillment process;

program code operable to translate the service design specifications into configurable service objects and exposing to customers;

program code operable to improve the services in terms of delivery and user experience through a constant cycle of monitoring, reporting and enhancements; and

program code operable to optimize the services in a cost effective manner by transforming services or decommissioning of services with minimal or no organizational impact.

11. The product of claim 10 , wherein validating the need for services further comprising:

program code operable to engage stakeholders to communicate IT service catalog value and build direction for service engagements;

program code operable to partner with stakeholders to gather accurate and complete service information;

program code operable to build a Point of Arrival (POA) model for services and obtain alignment from Service stakeholders; and

program code operable to gain alignment on the to-be model and formally obtain sign-off for the service engagement.

12. The product of claim 10 , wherein translating the service requirements to design specifications further comprising:

program code operable to analyze requirements and prepare detailed service design document & workflows; and

program code operable to validate and signoff design document and finalize service implementation plan.

13. The product of claim 10 , wherein translating the service design specifications into configurable service objects and exposing to customers further comprising:

program code operable to build and validate mock-ups, and configure services in the service development environment;

program code operable to conduct testing, validate results, fix defects, and track and obtain signoff for test results;

program code operable to release services to the production environment and communicate to service stakeholders; and

program code operable to transition services to support team and provide ongoing support for services and service catalog.

14. The product of claim 10 , wherein improving the services in terms of delivery and user experience further comprising:

program code operable to collect service performance data to identify opportunities for improvement;

program code operable to validate performance data with service stakeholders and collate recommendations;

program code operable to prepare detailed service improvement plan and engage stakeholders as needed; and

program code operable to execute improvements by coordinating with process teams, service delivery and development teams.

15. The product of claim 10 , wherein service optimizing the services in a cost effective manner further comprising:

program code operable to initiate decommission by creating decommission request and validating the triggers;

program code operable to prepare decommission plan and obtain signoff from stakeholders & interface areas; and

program code operable to execute decommission based on readiness levels, document and communicating outcomes.

16. The product of claim 10 , wherein domain components further comprising;

program code operable to implement processes to provide step by step procedures for the Service Domains to accomplish their objectives and sequence of activities performed to manage services in its lifecycle domains;

program code operable to use metrics for tracking and improvement of services within their Domains using set of defined parameters;

program code operable to use assets to enable decision making and movement of Services through the Service domains; and

program code operable to use process roles to facilitate the end to end flow of services through the Service Domains.