Difference between Business Service vs IT Service

[mohammedunwala]

Team,

What is the difference between Business Services and IT Service in "CMDB"?

Examples for both would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Mohammed

[Mujtaba Amin Bh]

Application is a very generic term. An application program   is a   program designed to perform a group of coordinated functions, tasks, or activities for the benefit of the user. Examples of an application can include anything from a word processor, a spreadsheet, an accounting application, a web browser, to a media player, an aeronautical flight simulator, a console game or a photo editor.

See for more info: Application software - Wikipedia

When an application or a set of applications is used to perform a specific business function it is called a business application. Therefore, business application is any application or set of applications that are used by business users to perform various business functions. These business applications are used to perform business functions accurately and increase productivity. For e.g. Finance Management , HR Request Management, Facilities Mgmt etc are business applications and they in turn may consist of one or many applications working together.

See for more info: Business software - Wikipedia

See Applications with respect to ServiceNow in below pic.

[JBark]

Interesting subject, we defined our Business Services at the top level by the Application i.e. SAP. In the SAP BSM, all servers and applications would be related items that either Runs On or Connects To.

IT Services were defined as Infrastructure and Support Groups i.e. Network Gear, UPS and AirCon in the Data Center. Support Groups, Server Support, Network Support, Application Support etc.

[The SN Nerd]

Lets look at ITIL for guidance.

In ITIL, an IT Service is a Technical Service which belong in Catalogues.

See below

http://www.hci-itil.com/ITIL_v3/images/service_design_ch4_fig_4_3.jpg

[chavdarbg]

Hi Mohammed,

Your question is the most important for any company. This is the question of questions.

Here are my simple clues for understanding which service is Business and which one is Supporting (including IT).

The answer is: It depends on the business of your company (you work for) and the customers needs, for which customers enter into a company like yours.   For example:

1. If   you work for an IT company like Microsoft

• Business Services are SaaS, DaaS, IaaS, Enterprise Support Assistance (Office 365, Exchange, SCCM, SCOM, Virtual Desctops etc.), which Microsoft delivers to its customers and clients (companies)
• Supporting Services are UPS, Cooling, Power supply, Water supply, Facilities management and all these important Supporting services that are the foundation of   Business Services

2. If you work for a famous university

• Business Services are knowledge transfers to students in different fields (physics, mathematics, mechanics, philosophy etc.)
• Supporting Services are Library, Computers, Emails, UPS, Cooling, Power supply, Water supply, Facilities management and all these important Supporting services that are the foundation of Business Services

3. If you work for a Bank

• Business Services are financial services like bank accounts, loans, money transfers, assets management and etc., that are delivered to bank customers

• Supporting Services are Servers, Desktops, Emails, UPS, Cooling, Power supply, Water supply, Facilities management that are never delivered to bank customers. Customers and clients never enter into a bank to receive IT services. They always enter for financial services, but good Supporting Services are competitive advantage.

4. If you work for an Architectural company

• Business Services are creating architectural plans for roads, homes, stores etc.

• Supporting Services are Servers, Desktops, Emails, UPS, Cooling, Power supply, Water supply, Facilities management that are never delivered to customers.

General descriptions of business activities (something like lists of business services) can be found in any trade register (company register).

IMPORTANT: Do not fully trust on every ITIL definition. ITIL is not a holy book in Service management and has a lot of disputable and debatable points. Business Service is one fo them.

Chavdar