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Problem Control. Problem control activities include problem analysis and documenting workarounds and known errors.

Just like incidents, problems will be prioritized based on the risk they pose in terms of probability and impact to services. Focus should be given to problems that have highest risk to services and service management.

https://www.bmc.com/blogs/itil-problem-management/#:~:text=2.,probability%20and%20impact%20to%20services.

In ITIL 4, the service desk practice is defined as the single point of contact between the service provider and its users. One of its key responsibilities is to ensure that:

Users can contact the service provider easily

There are multiple communication channels available (phone, email, chat, self-service portal, mobile app, etc.)

Calls, messages, and contacts from users about incidents, service requests, and inquiries are captured and handled

This means the service desk is the practice that guarantees users have a range of access channels to report problems and requests.

Why the other options are not correct:

B. Service level managementFocuses on setting, agreeing, and managing service level targets and ensuring that services meet agreed performance levels. It does not primarily manage user contact channels.

C. Incident managementFocuses on restoring normal service operation as quickly as possible after incidents occur. It uses information gathered by the service desk but does not itself guarantee multiple channels for users.

D. Change enablementDeals with ensuring that changes are properly evaluated, authorized, and managed. It is not about user-facing communication channels.

Therefore, A. Service desk is correct because it is explicitly responsible for providing and managing the channels through which users report issues and make requests.

References (ITIL 4 Foundation):

ITIL® Foundation: ITIL 4 Edition – Service desk practice (purpose and key activities)

ITIL® Foundation: ITIL 4 Edition – Overview of incident management and relationship with the service desk

The change enablement practice maximizes the number of successful service and product changes by ensuring that risks have been properly assessed, authorized, and managed within a schedule1. Change authorization is the activity of verifying that a proposed change is desirable, viable, and achievable before committing to its implementation2. The change type (standard, normal, or emergency) and model (a predefined approach for handling a specific type of change) is the basis for assigning the change authority (the role that can authorize a change)2. The other statements are incorrect because:

A standard change is a low-risk, pre-authorized change that follows an agreed procedure and does not require authorization at the point of implementation2.

An emergency change is a high-priority change that must be implemented as soon as possible to resolve an incident or implement a security patch2. An emergency change must be authorized by an emergency change authority (ECA), which is usually a subset of the normal change authority (CAB)2.

Ensuring that changes are authorized before their deployment is done by the change enabler (the role that coordinates all aspects of a change)2. References: ITIL Foundation - ITIL 4 Edition, page 16; ITIL® 4 – A Pocket Guide, page 39; ITIL® 4 Practice Guide: Change Enablement, page 7.

The purpose of the release management practice is to make new and changed services and features available for use.

Release: A version of a service or other configuration item, or a collection of configuration items, that is made available for use.

https://wiki.process-symphony.com.au/framework/lifecycle/process/release-management-itil-4/

A service level agreement (SLA) is a documented agreement between a service provider and a customer that identifies both services required and the expected level of service1. A necessity to a successful SLA is that the language and terms used in the SLA should be commonly understood by all parties, to avoid ambiguity, confusion, and disputes2. The other statements are not true because:

Base the SLA on system-based metrics that are useful to the service provider: The SLA should be based on customer-based metrics that are meaningful to the customer and reflect the value of the service2.

In order to promote consistent service, they should be carried forward, unchanged, from one year to the next: The SLA should be reviewed and updated regularly to reflect changing business needs, customer expectations, and service performance2.

Vague targets, such as those related to user experience should be avoided: The SLA should include both quantitative and qualitative targets, such as those related to user experience, satisfaction, and perception, as well as availability, reliability, and security2. References: ITIL Foundation - ITIL 4 Edition, page 16; ITIL® 4 – A Pocket Guide, page 37; ITIL® 4 Practice Guide: Service Level Management, page 8.

Error control also regularly re-assesses the status of known errors that have not been resolved, taking account of the overall impact on customers and/or service availability, and the cost of permanent resolutions, and effectiveness of workarounds

https://www.bmc.com/blogs/itil-problem-management/#:~:text=Error%20control%20also%20regularly%20re,resolutions%2C%20and%20effectiveness%20of%20workarounds.

In ITIL 4, service request management is one of the 7 practices described in more detail.

A service request is defined as a user request for something to be provided – for example:

access to an application or file

information or advice

a standard change that is preapproved

a new or replacement item of equipment

The key idea is:

A service request is a formal request from a user for something they are entitled to receive as part of a service.

Looking at each option:

This describes an incident.

An incident is an unplanned interruption to a service or reduction in its quality.

A request to restore normal service operation after something has gone wrong is handled by the incident management practice, not by service request management.

So this is not a service request.

This normally relates to a change.

Implementing a patch modifies the live environment.

This is usually handled through the change enablement practice (and then deployment management), often as a normal change or standard change, depending on the organization’s policies.

Although some standard changes can be triggered via service requests, ITIL Foundation typically uses clearer examples (such as access requests). This option is not the best example.

This is a classic example of a service request:

A user is asking for access (permission) to something as part of an existing service.

It is not fixing something broken, it is asking for something to be provided.

ITIL 4 explicitly lists access requests (for example, to applications, services, or data) as a common type of service request within the service request management practice.

Therefore, C is the correct answer.

This describes problem management:

When we investigate the root cause of one or more incidents, we are using the problem management practice.

The aim is to understand and remove the underlying cause, not to provide a standard service action requested by a user.

So this is not a service request.

This aligns with ITIL 4 Foundation descriptions of:

Service request – a user request for something to be provided.

Service request management practice – managing all types of service requests in a user-friendly and efficient way.

Incident management – restoring normal service operation as quickly as possible.

Problem management – identifying and managing the causes of incidents.

Change enablement – ensuring that changes are evaluated, authorized, and managed.

That is why “a request for access to a file” is the correct example of a service request.

To protect the information needed by the organization to conduct its business. This includes understanding and managing risks to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information, as well as other aspects of information security such as authentication and non-repudiation.

https://www.bmc.com/blogs/itil-management-practices/

More complex incidents will usually be escalated to a support team for resolution, or even suppliers and partners who offer support for products and services they provide.

The ITIL SVS describes how all the components and activities of the organization work together as a system to enable value creation.

The SVS is made up of specific inputs, elements, and outputs relevant to service management. The key inputs to the SVS are opportunity and demand. The output of the SVS is value delivered by products and services.

Opportunity refers to options or possibilities to add value for stakeholders or otherwise improve the organization.

Demand refers to need or desire for products and services among internal and external consumers.

https://www.bmc.com/blogs/itil-service-value-system/