Many organizations now source their IT services from multiple service providers. This gives them access to competitively priced, high quality services that allow them to focus on their core business. However, many organizations also struggle to get value from their service providers because they don’t have the right contracts in place, or don’t manage their supply chain effectively.
Service integration and management (SIAM) a management methodology that can be applied in an environment that includes services sourced from a number of service providers.
SIAM provides governance, management, integration, assurance, and coordination to ensure that the customer organization gets maximum value from its service providers. It introduces the concept of a ‘service integration’ layer between the customer and the service providers, making sure the whole supply chain is focused on business value and delivering what the customer expects.
SIAM is an evolution of how to apply a framework for integrated service management across multiple service providers. It has developed as organizations have moved away from outsourced contracts with a single supplier to an environment with multiple service providers. SIAM has evolved from the challenges associated with these more complex operating models.
SIAM supports cross-functional, cross-process, and cross-provider integration. It creates an environment where all parties:
- Know their role, responsibilities and context in the ecosystem
- Are empowered to deliver
- Are held accountable for the outcomes they are required to deliver
The SIAM methodology encompasses:
- Practices
- Processes
- Functions
- Roles
- Structural elements
There are three layers in the SIAM ecosystem:
- Customer organization (including retained capabilities)
- Service integrator
- Service provider(s)