Course: ITIL Practitioner - Release Management

This three day course leads to the ISEB examination and qualification ISEB Practitioner Certificate in IT Service Management: Release Management.

The course is designed for IT professionals working in Release Management who are involved on a day to day basis of software management and software implementation and wish to gain an acknowledged qualification in their area of expertise.

The course is a very practical learning experience with a number of exercises and scenarios built in.

The Release Management qualification will be attained through passing the ISEB set in course assignment in addition to passing the ISEB set multiple choice two hour exam paper which is scheduled for the last afternoon of the course.

Examination results will be forwarded directly, from the ISEB, to the student within three weeks of attending the course.

Pre-Requisites

Demonstrate at least one year’s experience in the Release Management process
Hold the Foundation Certificate in IT Service Management
 

Structure

The course will consist of formal lecturing, group discussions, in course assignments, and a practice examination paper.

The “live” examination is in two parts.

1. Is a one hour written case assignment based on a case study – which is marked by our ISEB examiner.
2. Is a one hour “closed book”, multiple choice paper and will take place on the afternoon of the last day of the course.

Delivered by a Focus Training Partner which specialises exclusively on IT Service Management:

- Courses never cancelled

- Trainers have hands-on ITIL experience

- Free refresher programme if you are unfortunate enough to fail the exam

Planning

The planning and implementation of the Release process On completion of the course the candidate should be able to:

• understand the planning activities involved in implementation of Release Management and management of the release lifecycle
• understand the potential costs, benefits and problems associated with the implementation of Release Management
• know the objectives and scope of Release Management
• demonstrate an awareness of the support tools and techniques for Release Management

Release policies and mechanisms

The establishment and management of the Definitive Software Library (DSL) and the Definitive Hardware Store (DHS) together with the definition and implementation of release policies and mechanisms. On completion of the course the candidate should be able to:

• Define and implement release polices and mechanisms
• Establish and maintain a DSL
• Establish and maintain a DHS
• Recognise when to utilise emergency releases
• Define and agree which releases can be handled through the use of standard releases and release mechanisms (Full, Delta and Package)
• Define and use different types of releases effectively Release processes, scheduling and implementation The definition and implementation of effective scheduling and implementation planning processes
• Design and implement quality assurance checks for the DSL and DHS
• Develop and implement build, test, distribution and implementation processes for releases
• Produce, implement and manage release plans and schedules
• Liaise with Change Management on the scheduling of releases and changes
• Ensure that all appropriate software and hardware are contained with the DSL and DHS

Building, Testing and Implementation

Oversee the building and testing of Releases, and their subsequent implementation. On completion of the course the candidate should be able to:

• Ensure that authorised releases are properly built
• Ensure that authorised releases are independently tested
• Ensure that authorised releases have back-out plans
• Co-ordinate and implement releases, liaising with Change Management as appropriate
• Co-ordinate the back-out of failed releases

Monitor and Report on Release Management

Monitor and report on the metrics of Release Management, and review the effectiveness of the process. On completion of the course the candidate should be able to:

• conduct Release reviews
• identify and report on the metrics of the release process
• understand the significance and implications of the various metrics
• understand the need for and methods of auditing process compliance
• review Release Management processes identifying areas of weakness, instigating resolutions and recommending proactive improvements

Interfaces and Dependencies

The appreciation and understanding of the scope of the Release Management process together with the interfaces and dependencies of the other Service Management processes. The candidate is able to:

• identify and understand the interfaces that Release Management has with the other Service Management processes
• define and document the dependencies of the other Service Management processes on Release Management processes and information
• define and document the dependencies of Release Management on the other Service Management processes and information
• implement procedures that facilitate the interfacing and dependence of Release Management with all other Service Management processes