How do Incidents, Changes, Problems, Events, Requests, Cases, Assets, and Dialogues connect to ServiceNow’s Common Service Data Model (CSDM 5)? The answer is CSDM 5+: a practical extension that shows the bigger picture, clarifies concepts, and provides implementation guardrails. 0. INTRODUCTION CSDM 5 defines six domains: Ideation & StrategyDesign & PlanningBuild & IntegrationDeliveryService ConsumptionFoundation These [...]
ServiceNow defined a Common Service Data model (CSDM5) without content. The TBM Council defined both a data model (TBM5) and its content. This article describes how to populate the content of TBM5 into CSDM5. TBM5 defined/described (relations between) artifacts for "Technology Consumers" (who?), "Technology Solutions" (what?), "Technology Resource Towers" (how?), and "Technology Cost Pools" [...]
For years, we’ve relied on concepts like SaaS, PaaS, IaaS, and DCaaS to describe how technology is delivered. These terms still exist, but they no longer fully capture today’s reality. Why? As platforms become software-defined, AI prompts are replacing software code, and information is scattered across multiple repositories, each serving the different needs of different [...]
On May 8, 2025, ServiceNow released its long-anticipated Common Service Data Model (CSDM) 5 white paper. This 63-page document marks a significant evolution of the data model that underpins many ServiceNow implementations across IT organizations globally. CSDM 5 introduces a refined structure consisting of seven domains, each representing a core capability area: Ideation & [...]
What was once known as ITIL configuration management no longer exists in the same form or approach. However, the core principles – recording what will come, what currently exists, and what once was – remain intact. Those familiar with PRINCE2 might recall that it also had a configuration management component, though its meaning differed from [...]
Introduction In the expansive world of ServiceNow, structure and clarity are key. ServiceNow's Common Service Data Model (CSDM) offers a recommended framework to bring order to IT ecosystems. While the CSDM is sound, it leaves considerable room for interpretation—making consistent application across an enterprise crucial for achieving meaningful results. Based on best practices and experience, [...]
Introduction to Digital Products and Instances Digital Products are central to the IT4IT framework, which provides a comprehensive standard for managing the digital lifecycle of products. According to the IT4IT Standard, a Digital Product encompasses all the resources (both IT and non-IT) required to deliver a specific service or function. This includes software, hardware, services, [...]
Increasingly, IT is becoming an integral part of the business rather than merely supporting it. In some cases, IT has even changed businesses. Global online Platforms are rapidly taking over the end-user interaction from those companies that provide the sold products or services, thus drastically changing the way the providers conduct their business. Most enterprises [...]
As you may know, ServiceNow has a Common Service Data Model (CSDM) that is usable throughout the ServiceNow Platform. Each (use of each) object is outlined in the CSDM 4.0 Whitepaper. In the ServiceNow documentation, examples are given so that the CSDM is used as intended. However, for most people, the CSDM concept is hard [...]
Like many others, I have used the Technical Business Management (TBM) Taxonomy of the TBM Open Forum in the ServiceNow implementations I was involved in. Rather than reinventing the wheel, I also used the definitions and the names of the solutions and the towers that the TBM Council and its community defined. At the TBM [...]
