About the itSMF USA, Houston Local Interest Group (LIG)
The itSMF
Founded in 1991, the itSMF (IT Service Management Forum) is "The Knowledge Network for IT Service Management." It is a global, independent, internationally recognized not-for-profit organization dedicated to IT Service Management. The itSMF is wholly owned and principally run by its membership. It consists of a growing number of national chapters, 33 nations to date, each with a large degree of autonomy but adhering to a common code of conduct.
The itSMF USA is one of the largest itSMF chapters, with almost 40 Local Interest Groups. The itSMF USA is a 503(c)(3) non-profit with almost 3,000 organizational members—blue chip and public sector alike.
itSMF Vision, and Mission, and Goals
The itSMF chapters worldwide share common vision and mission statements:
Vision: To be recognized by the IT industry and user organizations as the premier representative body for IT service management worldwide.
Mission: To provide a forum for our membership to enable them to exchange views, share experiences and participate in the continuous development of best practices and standards, as well as providing a range of services that provide significant value to the members.
The itSMF has four primary goals:
- Develop and promote industry best practice in Service Management
- Provide greater professionalism within Service Management personnel
- Provide a vehicle for helping members improve service performance
- Provide members with a relevant forum in which to exchange and share experiences with peers
The itSMF USA
Since 1997, the itSMF USA has represented the U.S. national network of organizations, vendors, and interested industry professionals who are active in the field of ITSM. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the itSMF USA is a member and board representative of the itSMF International organization.
The itSMF USA works with the international itSMF to formulate policies and strategies that influence and occasionally direct the operations of the national entities. The itSMF USA also interacts closely with the itSMF International to ensure that the needs of its membership are properly represented in the global community.
Although the collaboration between itSMF USA and itSMF International is significant, the itSMF USA is an independent organization with priorities and activities focused on its U.S. members and their needs. Members of the itSMF USA have access to all of the experience, material, documentation and programs generated by the International itSMF while also being a part of an organization focused on service management business issues, needs, and solutions specific to the United States.
The itSMF USA is focused on these critical, competitive issues:
- Evaluating and improving operational practices
- Improving service level agreements and organizational effectiveness
- Defining IT roles and responsibilities clearly
- Creating best practices for an efficient ROI
- Improving the "audit-ability" of IT
- Improving customer care systems and processes
- Creating multi-vendor operations
- Integrating legacy systems smoothly
- Managing distributed computing practically
- Identifying and implementing management tools more effectively
itSMF USA Membership
Membership of the itSMF USA is open to any person or group interested in the mission of the organization. itSMF USA members include, but are not limited to, IT professionals. itSMF membership may also be of interest to professional education and training organizations, technology vendors, and government agencies, as well as any layperson interested in the delivery and support of IT services and the fundamental concepts behind ITSM. For details about itSMF USA membership, visit the Membership Information page at the national chapter's Website.
itSMF Houston Local Interest Group
Houston ranks third among metropolitan statistical areas in the number of Fortune 500 headquarters, behind only New York and Chicago. Yet as awareness in the U.S. of ITIL® and IT Service Management best-practice frameworks increased, we found ourselves in 2004 not among the areas serviced by one of the itSMF USA's 25-plus Local Interest Groups, or LIGs.
Conversations and preparations for a Houston LIG began in the summer of 2004, the board of directors formed and officers elected in September, and the inaugural, general meeting held November 3. The founding board members of the Houston LIG are: Padma Nunna, Mart Rovers, Gary Vogel, Priscilla Milam, Ryan Carstens, and Ed Williams.
LIGs provide an opportunity for itSMF USA members within specified geographic areas to share information about common issues and industry trends. The localized focus allows IT professionals to network with peer organizations and vendors. Our primary role is to provide our members with immediate value from the itSMF USA, including face-to-face meetings with guest speakers (both ITSM authorities and local practitioners), other means for collaboration and networking (like our Forums message boards and a new, minimal-time, maximum-focus method called ITSMfocussm), and avenues for continuing education and information about ITSM (like our recent meeting with guest Robert Stroud about ITIL® version 3 and ISO/IEC 20000).
Our secondary role is to provide a regular "voice-of-the-customer" representation back to the national chapter. We report quarterly to itSMF USA about our meetings, their subjects, speakers, and attendance. This helps the officers of the national chapter continually update their data about what subjects are and are not of interest. Additionally, we conduct periodic surveys of our participants to help us better understand what you want out of your membership. All data reported is anonymous; we may ask for information to more accurately categorize your responses—information such as whether you are a vendor, consultant, or ITSM practioner, or the type of organization (commercial, government, non-profit, etc.) you work for—but your identity and your company name are never included.
Additional Information
Important links to learn more about the itSMF and our LIG:
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