FitSM® Investment Requirements

The investment required to implement FitSM® can vary significantly depending on the organization’s size, current maturity level, and implementation scope. However, in this blog we provide a general overview of the typical investments involved.

Time Investment

A FitSM® implementation usually requires the following time investment:

• Initial planning and assessment, per FitSM®-6‘s maturity and capability assessment: 1-2 months
• Basic level implementation: 3-6 months
• Reaching intermediate level: 6-12 additional months
• Achieving advanced level: 12-18 additional months

As mentioned earlier, timeframes vary depending on resource allocations, scope of implementation, and size of the organization, resulting in intermediate and advanced levels cut in half of what is listed.

Human Resources

From a human resources perspectives, the following resource requirements for a FitSM® implementation should be counted for.

• Project manager: Often a part-time role, 25-50% of their time
• Process owners: 10-20% of time for each key process
• Service owners: 10-20% of time for each key service
• Service management tool/platform owner: Often a part-time role, while initially a fulltime resource is needed for 6-9 months, 25-50% of their time
• Staff training: 2 days per person for basic training, and an additional 3-5 days for advanced-expert training

Financial Investment

The typical financial investments are comprised of the following budget items.

• Training costs:
  • Basic FitSM® training: $500-$1,500 per person
  • Advanced courses: $1,500-$3,000 per person
• Consultant or coaching fees (if needed): $10,000-$50,000, depending on involvement level
• Tools and software: $5,000-$50,000 annually, depending on organization size and chosen solution

Indirect Costs

• Staff time for process redesign and implementation
• Potential short-term productivity dips during transition

Ongoing Costs

• Continuous process and service improvement efforts
• Refresher training
• Tool maintenance and upgrades

Key Factors Affecting Cost:

• Organization size and complexity
• Current service management maturity level
• Implementation scope (number of processes)
• Whether external consultants are used
• Choice of supporting tools

Note that an objective answer to the question about the current service management maturity level should be obtained by conducting a maturity/capability assessment per guidance of FitSM®-6.

Cost-saving Aspects of FitSM®

• Less complex than frameworks like ITIL®, saving time
• Potentially requiring less training as FitSM® courses require less time than ITIL® courses
• Can be implemented gradually, spreading costs over time
• Emphasis on practical application can lead to quicker returns on investment

It’s important to note that while there are upfront costs, successful implementation often leads to significant long-term savings through improved efficiency, reduced downtime, and better resource allocation.

Final Consideration

Remember, these are rough estimates and can vary widely. Organizations should conduct a thorough assessment of their specific needs and resources to get a more accurate picture of the required investment.