APM, Business Capability vs Business Service, Metamodel

[jamesmcwhinney]

We are looking into purchasing and deploying APM, but I am struggling to wrap my head around how these concepts fit together post-APM.

All of the documentation I have found so far is pre-APM and doesn't include much detail on how ServiceNow relates the new Business Capability table with the pre-existing Business Service table.

From what I have read, my understanding is... 

“Applications”

The “Applications” table in the CMDB is auto populated (via discovery) with a list of all running instances of major technologies (ex. IIS, Apache, Tomcat, etc).

“Business Applications”

With the activation of the APM module, a new table in the CMDB called “Business Applications” is created to represent the high level application that all of the underlying technologies roll up into (ex. SAP ERP Rental Module).

“Business Capabilities” (Strategic - TOGAF - outside->in perspective)

Business capabilities represent work that the business does (irrespective of departments or organizational hierarchy) (ex. Rental Management)

The focus of capabilities is strategic.  It focuses on “What” the business does now or needs to do in the future (but not necessarily how to do it).

Within APM, Business Applications are linked to the business capabilities they realize.

“Business Services” (Operational – ITIL - inside->out perspective)

Business Services are the services provided by the business to deliver a set of capabilities. (Business units execute business processes to deliver business services which “realize” business capabilities).

The focus of business services is more operational (ITIL). It is about “How” the capability is delivered, and how it is consumed.

These are typically specific to an instance (ex. SAP Rental Management – Canada, SAP Rental Management – USA)

Can anyone shed some light on this?

Is there an updated metamodel somewhere I can reference?

Thanks!

- James

[amarkon]

Hi James,

Yes, we have a reference metamodel and it is called CSDM (Common Service Data Model).

The metamodel document can be found here

https://community.servicenow.com/community?id=community_article&sys_id=6c098c32db1767001089e15b8a9619b3

Definition of all the terms can be found here

https://community.servicenow.com/community?id=community_article&sys_id=254f309cdb7e93002be0a851ca9619a2

Please subscribe to the community site here

https://community.servicenow.com/community?id=community_forum&sys_id=117d6f4edb35130047c8f3231f96196...

Hope this helps!!

Thanks,

Amar

[Stig Brandt1]

HI

As far as I remember, it is a CI Relationship between Business capabilities and Business Application, so you can add a suggested relationship to any record of your choice.

https://docs.servicenow.com/bundle/madrid-it-business-management/page/product/application-portfolio-management/task/create-a-business-capability.html

Cheers

Stig