Business Application versus Application Product Model

[Arno Reintjens]

Hi all,

I am looking for what will be the future state for using the application model table together with the business application table.

Previously we got the advice (from ServiceNow) to refrain from using the application product model table. But if, as is documented, you want to refer a Service Offering CI to an application model you need to map the Business Applications (cmdb_cI_business_app) to the Application Product Model (cmdb_product_application), or vice versa. So has the advice changed, and do we need to start to sync the Application Product Model to the Business Application table? And is there a standard way/guidelines for doing?

Looking forward for your feedback,

Cheers,

Arno

[CMDB Whisperer]

I have not heard a specific recommendation not to use them, but I do agree that there is currently a lack of clarity in how and when to use both application models and service models, and a lack of consistency and maturity in how the platform supports their use and what value is obtained from using them. 

That said, I'm not clear on your use case based on the following statement:

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But if, as is documented, you want to refer a Service Offering CI to an application model you need to map the Business Applications (cmdb_cI_business_app) to the Application Product Model (cmdb_product_application), or vice versa.

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Questions:

1. What document are you referring to specifically?
2. There is an "if" in this statement, but what is the "then"?  What is the actual use case you are looking to address with application models?

[scott_lemm]

@Arno Reintjens 

It is the current and future recommendation to use Application model as a Model ID "reference" on a Business Application. In the near future, APM will assist in the creation and auto-referencing of Application Models to Business Applications. The attribute, Model ID, has been part of ServiceNow CMDB for over a decade. Historically, ServiceNow has not required the use of Models as references in the CMDB. But the use cases for Business Applications to reference the Application Model have been evolving most recently. 

Note: this is an attribute reference on a CI from Business Application to Application Model, not a CMDB relationship.

To provide a Product Owner (the Owner of a Product: Application Model, Software Model, HW Model, etc.) insight into the life cycle and value of their product(s). We are encouraging referencing Models to their appropriate non-discoverable CIs as such:

• Business Application - Application Model (version agnostic)
• SDLC Component - Application Model (version agnostic)
• Business Service/Offering - Service Model
• Technical Service/Offering - Service Model
• Application Service - Software Model (version specific, child of Application Model)

We will be releasing A LOT more details around Product Models and their use within the platform when we release CSDM 5 early next year. 

Hope this helps,

Scott (ServiceNow CSDM Product Manager)

[CMDB Whisperer]

Thanks @scott_lemm - Currently the Application Service is associated with Service Models by default, and this is the expectation in CSM as well.  Will Application Services still be allowed to be associated with Service Models, since they are (sometimes) a bridge between the Application and the Service?

[Arno Reintjens]

Thanks @scott_lemm for your answer.

Then we need to start cleaning up the application product model class.

To enable the product owners in their responsibility for life cycle management, every CI should have a model referenced. Do I understand correctly?
In your answer you mention specifically non-discoverable CIs. But also discoverable CIs need a model id, and now not all get one. Is there a OOTB method to facilitate this? Example a Oracle (Cloud) database does not get a model id filled. You don't want to do this manually.

And very much looking forward to CSDM 5 documentation. Is there maybe already a draft available?

Cheers,

Arno Reintjens

[Sandra Clendon]

We are in the process of implementing DPM and I found it really interesting that the agile related widgets in the Business Application build tab look for tables that reference the cmdb_ci_business_app OR where the agile product has the same name as the  business application.  Really can't wait to see how this is resolved in CSDM 5.