Cheat sheet

ITIL 4 Foundation Cheat Sheet

Key Concepts

12-13%of exam

Value WordsUtility vs WarrantyService RelationshipCost + RiskCo-creation

Guiding Principles

15%of exam

7 PrinciplesFocus on ValueKeep It SimplePrinciple PickerIterate + Feedback

Dimensions + SVS

12-13%of exam

4 DimensionsSVS ComponentsValue ChainGovernanceContinual Improvement

ITIL Practices

60%of exam

IncidentProblemChange EnablementService RequestPractice Picker

Quick Facts

Exam
ITIL 4 Foundation
Questions
40 MCQ
Time
60 min
Pass
65% (26/40)
Format
Closed book
Prereqs
None
Body
PeopleCert / AXELOS
Non-native
75 min

Utility vs Warranty

Utility

  • Fit for purpose
  • What it does
  • Functionality

Warranty

  • Fit for use
  • How well
  • Availability + capacity

What vs how well

Key Concept Words

Service
Enables outcomes for customer
Value
Perceived benefits + importance
Outcome
Result for stakeholder
Output
Tangible deliverable
Cost
Money spent
Risk
Possible loss or uncertainty
Utility
Fit for purpose
Warranty
Fit for use
Product
Configured resources bundle

Output vs Outcome

Output

  • Tangible deliverable
  • Activity produces it
  • A thing

Outcome

  • Result for stakeholder
  • Enabled by output
  • The benefit

Deliverable vs result

Service Relationship

Service provider
Supplies the service
Service consumer
Receives the service
Customer
Defines + approves needs
User
Uses the service
Sponsor
Authorizes budget
Service offering
Goods, access, actions
Co-creation
Value built together

Value vs Cost

Value

  • Perceived benefit
  • Importance to consumer
  • Co-created

Cost

  • Money spent
  • Resource consumed
  • Removed or imposed

Benefit vs spend

7 Guiding Principles

Value, Start, Iterate, Collaborate, Holistic, Simple, Optimize

Focus on valueStart where you areIterate + feedbackCollaborate + visibilityThink holisticallyKeep it simpleOptimize + automate

Which Guiding Principle?

  1. Unsure of benefitFocus on value
  2. Tempted to rebuildStart where you are
  3. Big risky rolloutIterate + feedback
  4. Teams in silosCollaborate + visibility
  5. Narrow local fixThink holistically
  6. Process too complexKeep it simple
  7. Manual repetitive workOptimize + automate

7 Guiding Principles

Focus on value
Everything links to value
Start where you are
Reuse what exists
Iterate + feedback
Small steps, learn fast
Collaborate + promote visibility
Right people, no silos
Think + work holistically
Whole system view
Keep it simple
Remove what adds nothing
Optimize + automate
Improve first, then automate

Four Dimensions

Orgs, Info/Tech, Partners, Value streams

Orgs + peopleInfo + technologyPartners + suppliersValue streams + processes

Four Dimensions

Orgs + people
Roles, culture, structure
Info + technology
Data, tools, systems
Partners + suppliers
External relationships
Value streams + processes
How work flows
PESTLE factors
External constraints

Value Chain Activities

Plan, Improve, Engage, Design, Obtain, Deliver

PlanImproveEngageDesign + transitionObtain / buildDeliver + support

SVS Components

Guiding principles
Recommendations for action
Governance
Direct + control org
Service value chain
Operating model
Practices
34 capability sets
Continual improvement
Ongoing alignment
Opportunity / demand
SVS input
Value
SVS output

SVS Components

Principles, Governance, Chain, Practices, Improvement

Guiding principlesGovernanceService value chainPracticesContinual improvement

Service Value Chain

Plan
Set vision + direction
Improve
Continual improvement
Engage
Stakeholder relationships
Design + transition
Meet expectations
Obtain / build
Components available
Deliver + support
Agreed services delivered

Improvement Model Steps

What's the vision?
Link to objectives
Where are we now?
Baseline assessment
Where do we want?
Measurable targets
How do we get there?
Plan actions
Take action
Execute improvement
Did we get there?
Check measures
Keep momentum
Embed + repeat

Incident vs Problem

Incident

  • Restore service
  • Speed matters
  • Single event

Problem

  • Find cause
  • Reduce recurrence
  • Underlying reason

Restore now vs prevent later

Which Practice?

  1. Restore service fastIncident mgmt
  2. Find root causeProblem mgmt
  3. Authorize a changeChange enablement
  4. Standard service requestService request mgmt
  5. Single contact pointService desk
  6. Set service targetsService level mgmt
  7. Protect informationInfo security mgmt
  8. Track asset lifecycleIT asset mgmt
  9. Make release availableRelease mgmt

Most-Tested Practices

Incident mgmt
Restore service fast
Problem mgmt
Reduce incident likelihood
Change enablement
Maximize successful changes
Service request mgmt
Handle standard requests
Service desk
Single point contact
Service level mgmt
Set + monitor targets
Continual improvement
Ongoing alignment to needs
Monitoring + event mgmt
Observe, classify events

Request vs Incident

Service request

  • Planned, normal
  • User-initiated ask
  • Standard delivery

Incident

  • Unplanned interruption
  • Something broke
  • Restore service

Normal ask vs broken

Which Change Type?

  1. Low risk, repeatableStandard change
  2. Needs assessmentNormal change
  3. Urgent, can't waitEmergency change
  4. Pre-approved procedureStandard change
  5. Restore failed serviceEmergency change

Other Key Practices

Info security mgmt
Protect information (CIA)
Relationship mgmt
Link stakeholders
Supplier mgmt
Manage vendors, contracts
IT asset mgmt
Track asset lifecycle
Service config mgmt
Accurate CI info
Release mgmt
Make features available
Deployment mgmt
Move components to live
Service catalogue mgmt
Single source services

Known Error vs Workaround

Known error

  • Cause identified
  • Analyzed problem
  • Documented

Workaround

  • Reduces impact
  • Temporary fix
  • No root resolution

Cause known vs temporary fix

Incident + Problem Terms

Incident
Unplanned interruption / degradation
Problem
Cause of incidents
Known error
Analyzed problem, cause found
Workaround
Temporary reduce impact
Major incident
High impact, urgent
Swarming
Many specialists collaborate
Escalation
Route to right team

Change Types

Standard change
Pre-authorized, low risk
Normal change
Assessed + authorized
Emergency change
Fast-tracked, urgent
Change authority
Approves a change
Change schedule
Plan + avoid conflicts

Common Traps

Incident vs problem

Incident restores service Problem finds cause

Output vs outcome

Output is deliverable Outcome is result

Utility vs warranty

Utility = purpose Warranty = use

Enablement not management

ITIL 4: change enablement Not change management

Request vs incident

Request is planned Incident is broken

Practices not processes

ITIL 4 has practices v3 had processes

Last Minute

  1. 1.7 principles, 4 dimensions, 6 activities
  2. 2.Dimensions: orgs, tech, partners, streams
  3. 3.Chain: plan, improve, engage, deliver
  4. 4.SVS: principles, governance, chain, practices, improvement
  5. 5.34 practices: general, service, technical
  6. 6.Pass = 26 of 40
  7. 7.No negative marking; answer all
  8. 8.Incident restores; problem finds cause
  9. 9.Utility = purpose; warranty = use
  10. 10.Changes: standard, normal, emergency
Same family resources

Explore More ITIL Certifications

Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.