CSDM 6, DPM and Technology Business Management (TBM)

[Miklos Palfi]

There are multiple common concepts between Digital Portfolio Management (ServiceNow DPM) and Technology Business Management (TBM Council) Taxonomy 5.0, what is currently not optimal in the CSDM 5:

for example services and products are collected into Technology Solutions in TBM, and DPM slides refer to Solution Owners understanding multiple roles under it.

"Technology Solutions define what the Technology organization delivers to its stakeholders—such
as digital products, business capabilities, or internal services. Each Solution represents a packaged
outcome or offering that enables the business to operate, grow, or transform. Solutions are the
focal point for planning, managing, and measuring technology value, as they connect the costs
and performance of underlying resources to business outcomes. They may be classified as
Services (stable, repeatable offerings) or Products (software-enabled capabilities governed
through agile or product-based models), and are typically aligned to consumer needs, funding
models, and strategic priorities." (TBM Council TBM Taxonomy 5.0 paper)

But CSDM 5.0 handles the products more on the sideline (product model down in the foundation domain, not in the consumption domain).
My question is: how do you handle digital products, are there anyone else out there, who handle them as a subtype of services? (Thus selectable everywhere where service are used - INC, PRB, CHG etc. and also cost and performance management)

Will this be addressed in CSDM 6.0?

[Mathew Hillyard]

Hi @Miklos Palfi 

I believe Digital Product was floated as being a potential replacement for several different CSDM objects between v4.0 and v5.0. I'm not sure why it didn't make it into v5.0 - perhaps it didn't fit in with the overall model?

Interestingly your quote from TBM 5.0 about the difference between services and products seems to me to be more blurred than ever - what don't  we deliver with software, and what products are not stable, repeatable offerings?

I believe there are plans to rename Business Application in Zurich, not sure whether the new name is public yet, but I don't think it's going to be Digital Product.

I hope this helps!

Mat

[Miklos Palfi]

Hi @Mathew Hillyard 

agree, as you wrote there was an idea in a draft version to replace business applications (and services) with digital products, but that change was postponed/abadoned. (Fortunately! Just think about APM/EAM what would have happend there.)

On page 21 in the TBM Taxonomy 5.0 paper (see the other thread TBM Taxonomy 5.0 - CSDM mapping ) there is more about the service and product definitions, but I agree with you, that the debate hasn't settled yet. I belong more to those who see the digital products as repurposed services enhanced with product management additions. I would argue for having Digital Products on the same layer as Business Services (as parents of Business Offerings and as children of enterprise portfolio taxonomy nodes.) That would also nicely fit with DPM.

It would be great to have an open discussion, I wonder why so few are thinking about this yet.

Thanks for giving your view on this!

Miklos