Why is IT Service Management (ITSM) Implementation Simulator (Yokohama) so difficult to complete????

[andrearusso]

I've been doing this course on/off for over a month now!  Only have 5 instances remaining and I just want to say "Thank You" to all you who have posted answers to get me through this course thus far. Still can't complete it because I'm stuck with the 3 Catalog items to complete.   I can't tell you all how many times I've said to my family how much I HATE this course & SN in general for making a course like this. I'm grateful for all of you who have given me hints & clues as to what do to complete tasks throughout this terribly designed course. I wouldn't have made it this far without you all. Now if you could please guide me in the right direction to complete this course that would be Awesome! (Yes, I'm old and proud of it-maybe that's why these IT course take me longer).

[Matthew_13]

You are definitely not alone in feeling this way!

This course is frustrating with real-world learning curves in mind—especially when you’re limited on instances. A lot of people struggle with it, even those who’ve been in IT and ServiceNow for years.

You should also give yourself credit: if you’re down to five instances left, you’ve already pushed through the hardest parts. That doesn’t happen without persistence, problem-solving, and a lot of patience. This isn’t about age at all—this course expects trial-and-error without explaining why things work, which is tough for anyone.

You’ve done the right thing by leaning on the community. That’s honestly how most of us survive these labs. No shame in it at all!

If you’re stuck specifically on the three catalog items, post what those items are or where the simulator is failing you, and people here can usually point you in the right direction without burning another instance. Many of the catalog tasks have one tiny “gotcha” that isn’t obvious.

Hang in there you’re closer than it feels, and you’re absolutely capable of finishing this. The community’s got your back.

@andrearusso - Please mark as Accepted Solution and give Thumbs Up if you found Helpful!!

[andrearusso]

Thank you. I've been in the IT for 18 years now and only been working with SN for a year or so.  My 1st task that I keep seeming to go in circles with is the basic adding the three categories:

   - Marketing

   - Sales

   - Workshops

Where are they?  I have no choices left to add in Categories. 

[CFrandsen · Accepted solution]

@andrearusso  - Kudos for keeping on !

based on the limited information on what you configured so far, i'll just take the liberty of slowly describing the how I would do it:

1) Navigate to the "Maintain Catalogs" (/now/nav/ui/classic/params/target/sc_catalog_list.do)
2) Ensure that you have created a new Service Catalog named "Consulting Practice" (Exclude the . period in the name)
3) Open the record, and scroll to the related lists "Categories"
4) Validate that you have added 3 categories:
Marketing
Sales
Workshops 
(ignore the "-") 

Once this is in place, please try the validate task button again.
- If you are still running into issues with this one, please provide screenshots of the Catalogs and the Catalog's Related list with Categories.

[andrearusso]

Thank you so much. I was in the wrong section completely! This was the guidance I needed. Thank you & Happy New Year!