Defining the IT Operating Model

Business value from investments in IT are delivered to the enterprise via an IT operating model, but there is no industry consensus about what other components should be included in an IT operating model. The motivation for publishing this White Paper is the belief that a clear understanding of the elements of an IT operating model is an essential enabler for effective leverage of new IT paradigms such as DevOps, Agile, Cloud, and Digital Transformation.

An operating model has a description of activities and processes at its core. To improve understanding and communication, this White Paper frames the operating model aspects by defining those components. An IT operating model supports both the IT organization in delivering business value (provide IT services to other parts of the enterprise), as well as the parts of digital enterprises that have embedded IT activities into their business processes and products. In this White Paper, "IT organization" refers to either or both, depending on the context.