CSDM5 explained in 10 minutes…

There are hundreds of interpretations of the ServiceNow Common Service Data Model (CSDM). In this article, you will find the how CSDM5 is construed and implemented in ServiceNow. Different lenses, different focus. Program/Project Managers manage the Project/Demand Portfolio. Enterprise Architects manage the Application Portfolio Product Owners manage the backlog for their components in the Product Portfolio Service Owners manage their artifacts in the Service Portfolio Configuration Managers track their IT Inventory in the Configuration Management Database (CMDB) Asset Managers track the book value, operational [...]

By |2025-09-08T17:48:28+02:00September 6th, 2025|TBM/CSDM/CMDB, Uncategorized|0 Comments

Structuring IT the Smart Way: Six Top-level Services for Enterprises

For many organizations, IT is still structured around systems, platforms, or departments. While that might have worked in the past, it often results in fragmented ownership, blurred accountabilities, and difficulties aligning with business needs. A better way forward is to structure IT around six top-level services, derived from the six solution types in the TBM (Technology Business Management) 5 framework. This model creates clarity, aligns IT with business value, and allows enterprises to manage technology at the right level of abstraction. By structuring [...]

By |2025-09-06T17:23:20+02:00August 27th, 2025|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Why reinvent the wheel? Use TBM 5.0 Content in the CSDM 5.0 Data Model

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" (how much?). You can download a free copy of the TBM 5.0. CSDM5 defined/described who, what, how, and how much, albeit its focus is more on ITSM/ITOM than on ITAM/ITFM. [...]

By |2025-09-08T17:15:18+02:00August 22nd, 2025|ServiceNow, TBM/CSDM/CMDB, Uncategorized|0 Comments

How to manage content in ServiceNow CMDB/CSDM?

Populating and maintaining an accurate Configuration Management Database (CMDB), aligned with ServiceNow’s Common Service Data Model (CSDM), is a significant challenge for most enterprises. This guide outlines how to do it right, what types of items should (and should not) be registered in the CMDB, and the most effective methods to achieve high-quality data—both with today’s technology and in preparation for tomorrow’s needs. Core Philosophy Enterprises should manually define and maintain their portfolio baselines (e.g., services, offerings, applications). The instances of those baselines—the [...]

By |2025-07-31T23:13:35+02:00July 31st, 2025|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Going overboard with CSDM 5?

ServiceNow published a PowerPoint presentation with 132 slides with examples on how one could model the IT landscape accormodeoding to CSDM 5. Although I generally love CSDM, some appear to go overboard when modelling their IT landscape in ServiceNow. Let's take an example: How (not) to model the ServiceNow Platform in CSDM 5. The ServiceNow platform that is used for different types, sizes, maturities of companies, for different things, by different people, in different cultures, that often are using multiple process frameworks. The CSDM [...]

By |2025-06-10T22:35:58+02:00June 7th, 2025|Uncategorized|0 Comments

25 AI Support Agent Conversation Examples

AI Support Agent Conversation Playbook – Multilingual IT Support via Microsoft Teams Overview This playbook provides 25 conversation examples for a multilingual AI agent that supports users via Microsoft Teams across the following IT domains: • End-User Devices • Identity & Access Management • Business Applications • Networking & Telecommunication • Collaboration Tools • Cloud Infrastructure • General Support & Universal Requests • Sensitive Security or Compliance Issues Each scenario includes a typical user question or issue, the AI agent’s diagnostic and response [...]

By |2025-06-01T21:34:20+02:00June 1st, 2025|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Best Practices for CSDM 5

So, you have read the CSDM 5, and you have a general idea. However, there are numerous open questions and choices . This article describes the Practices that i recommend for what (not) to model in ServiceNow. Applying these recommendations avoid issues down the line. What to store in ServiceNow: In the Digital Products Portfolio (Baselines): All Digital Services that are formally offered as a Service to the Company, incl. Infrastructure, Applications, and AI Digital Assets (non versioned). [...]

By |2025-06-01T21:11:27+02:00June 1st, 2025|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Aligning APM, DPM, SCM, AI and CMDB

Each IT management framework has its distinct definitions, glossaries, and fanbase. And guess what? These often don't align or match with each other. Initially people differentiated between software and hardware. With the advent of massive Outsourcing, Cloud Services, and APIs, people began to distinguish between applications and infrastructure that could both be offered/consumed "as a Service". This was working well until the emergence of Software-Defined-Networks, Microservice Architecture, Generative AI, and now Agentic AI. The only thing that these things nowadays have in common is [...]

By |2025-06-01T21:16:03+02:00May 31st, 2025|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Enterprise Service Mngt (ESM) Capabilities?

Employees of an Enterprise typically consume Enterprise-wide capabilities that Fulfillers and AI Agents enable. The FullFillers and AI-Agents are platform-agnostic and consume data from Systems of Record (SoR), and interact with Systems of Engagement (SoE).Agentic AI itself does not employ a hard-coded process flow; instead, it reasons and determines its next steps/actions based on real-time triggers, responses, data, and events. This makes Agentic AI for the Enterprise less predictable but more flexible and capable than its predecessors (machine learning and hard-coded workflows). That said, [...]

By |2025-05-29T16:57:26+02:00May 29th, 2025|Uncategorized|0 Comments

The ultimate list of (700+) IT Management Tools, December 2024

Below is an overview of 727 IT management tools meticulously grouped into eight primary categories. This compilation highlights the breadth and depth of the IT management landscape, from strategic planning and governance to day-to-day operations and security oversight IT Enterprise Architecture (EA) – 33 Tools Focused on aligning technology strategies with overarching business objectives, facilitating structured frameworks, and ensuring that IT investments support long-term organizational goals. IT Development Operations (DevOps) – 85 Tools Emphasizes the synergy between software development and operations, streamlining processes [...]

By |2025-05-17T14:14:40+02:00December 24th, 2024|IT4IT, Uncategorized|0 Comments

How to implement a Joiner, Mover and Leaver Process?

Here’s an integrated overview of how your enterprise will handle the Joiner, Mover, and Leaver (JML) processes, utilising Workday, Azure AD, Saviynt, Intune, JAMF, Ariba, ADP, and ServiceNow while addressing all requested elements. 1. Joiner Process (Onboarding) 1.1 Triggering the Process Permanent Staff: Workday acts as the source of truth for HR master data. A new hire record is created in Workday, including role, location, and job classification. Saviynt picks up user details from Workday for Identity Governance and Access Management (IGA). Azure AD provisions basic identity accounts (email, [...]

By |2024-12-23T19:14:19+02:00December 23rd, 2024|Uncategorized|0 Comments

A new era for Configuration Management: The Zero Touch CMDB

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 what ITIL specialists referred to. In the past, architects documented IT landscapes in designs and architectural blueprints. Risk and continuity managers focused on CIA ratings, audits, and findings concerning [...]

By |2025-05-17T14:14:54+02:00November 30th, 2024|IT4IT, TBM/CSDM/CMDB, Uncategorized|0 Comments
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