Change is an inherent part of technology and Service Management — constantly evolving to meet new challenges and improve efficiency. In the realm of IT operations, the term "change request" is a pivotal tool for facilitating these necessary adaptations, guiding the transition of services and systems with precision and control.
The concept of a change request spans multiple disciplines. However, keep in mind that this article zeroes in on its specific application within the service desk environment.
Here, we'll explore the definition, the critical elements of a change request form, and offer a detailed look at a free workflow template available through InvGate Service Management, tailored for those in the IT sector aiming to refine their Change Management processes.
If you're an IT professional looking to streamline your change request processes, read on to discover how our built-in workflow setups can simplify and enhance your operations!
Table of contents
- What is a change request - And when do you need it?
- 5 benefits of change requests for the help desk.
- What does a request for change contain?
- Download our free change request workflow template.
- Designing an efficient change request process.
What is a change request – and when do you need it?
A change request is essentially your formal request ticket for tweaking or modifying anything in your system or IT environment. Think of it as a necessary checkpoint that ensures no changes are made without the right checks, balances, and sign-offs.
Whether it’s because of new business needs, fixing existing problems, or simply making something better, a change request helps you outline what needs to be done and why.
In the world of IT Service Management (ITSM), these requests are crucial for keeping your IT infrastructure updates smooth and trouble-free, ensuring they don’t mess up your existing services.
Let’s see an example in which you might use a change request. Imagine a company planning to update its CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software to add new features and improve user experience. The IT department submits a change request detailing the need for the update, outlining the benefits such as enhanced data analysis tools and a more intuitive user interface.
This request goes through several stages: it's first reviewed to assess its impact on current systems and workflows, then approved by the necessary managers or a Change Advisory Board, scheduled for a time that minimizes disruption to daily operations, and finally implemented by the IT team.
Post-implementation, a review is conducted to ensure the update meets its objectives and to address any issues that arose during the transition. This structured approach ensures the update is managed smoothly and effectively, keeping all stakeholders informed and engaged throughout the process.
How to Build a Change Management Workflow
5 benefits of change requests for the help desk
Change requests aren't just procedural necessities, but tools that can boost the effectiveness and reliability of your help desk. By formalizing how changes are proposed, assessed, and implemented, these requests can bring a lot of benefits to your IT operations.
Here’s how they make a difference:
- Creating a controlled environment: Change requests are great for keeping things orderly. They ensure every proposed change is recorded, carefully evaluated, and properly approved before any action is taken. This both helps maintain order and prevents the chaos that unauthorized changes could cause.
- Boosting accountability: With change requests, everything is on the record — who asked for the change, who gave it the thumbs up, and who put it into action. This traceability makes it easier to keep tabs on changes and ensures everyone is accountable for their part.
- Minimizing risks: Change requests act like a quality check for your IT processes. By having a set review and approval sequence, potential risks are flagged and dealt with before they can become real problems, helping to keep your systems running smoothly.
- Ensuring compliance: For any IT operation, sticking to regulatory standards is a must, and change requests help with just that. They keep your Change Management process in line with legal and industry standards, complete with the necessary documentation for audit trails.
- Improving communication with stakeholders: Keeping everyone in the loop is easier with change requests. Regular updates throughout the change process ensure that all stakeholders are well-informed, fostering better communication and smoothing over any potential resistance to new changes.
What does a request for change contain?
A request for change typically contains several crucial pieces of information including the reason for the change, the detailed description of the proposed changes, the impact analysis, the resources required, the proposed timeline, and any associated risks. This documentation is vital for the approval and prioritization of the change.
Download our free change request workflow template
To help you get started, we're providing a free change request workflow template, which contains a static version of the process built into InvGate Service Management.
This template provides a visual representation of the entire workflow and serves as an excellent tool for understanding and training your team on the process. In the next section, we'll break down this template into its various components and describe how each part functions within our software.
Designing an efficient change request process
The first step in the change request workflow is crucial as it initiates the entire process. This step includes the change request form. Here’s a detailed look at each component of the form and how it serves the overall process.
Breaking down the change request form
The form starts with the field “Type,” where users can select the urgency and importance of the change. The options are Standard, Normal, and Emergency. Standard might refer to routine updates with low impact, Normal for regular changes that need standard approvals, and Emergency for critical changes that need to be implemented urgently to address significant issues or risks.
The field “Reason for Change” is a rich text field which allows the requester to provide a detailed explanation of why the change is necessary. This could include enhancements, fixes, or updates. The description helps in assessing the impact and urgency of the request during the approval process.
The next field is "Date and Time for the Change," where the requester specifies when they propose the change to be implemented. This helps in planning and scheduling the change to minimize disruption to business operations.
"Activity Plan" requires the requester to outline the steps that will be taken to implement the change. A clear and concise plan helps ensure that the implementation team understands the tasks involved and can execute them efficiently.
The field "Rollback Plan" asks for a contingency plan in case the change needs to be reversed. A rollback plan is essential to quickly restore previous configurations if the new change leads to unforeseen problems.
Finally, the form includes a file attachment field called "Documents," which allows the requester to attach any relevant documents, such as technical specifications, compliance documents, or detailed plans.
Change request workflow steps
Once the change request form has been filled, the workflow continues:
- Change Type
The workflow checks the type of change request to categorize it appropriately. This can involve different levels of scrutiny and processes depending on the urgency and impact of the change.
ECAB (Emergency Change Advisory Board): Used for urgent changes that need to be implemented swiftly to avoid major issues or to address immediate business needs.
CAB (Change Advisory Board): Used for standard changes that require thorough review and planning.
ELSE: For minor changes that do not require extensive review.
- Approval - CAB/ECAB
The change request is forwarded to either the CAB or ECAB for approval, depending on its classification.Outcomes:
A. ACCEPTED: The change is approved for implementation and will move forward to step 3.
B. REJECTED/ CANCELED: The change is not approved, because it doesn’t meet the necessary requirements, or is canceled, due to changed circumstances or priorities.
2B. 1. In both cases, an automated email notification is sent to the requester and other relevant stakeholders informing them.
2B.2. As the final stage, the canceled change step is triggered.
- Create Outlook calendar invite: Once the change has been approved, an automatic integration with Outlook creates a calendar invite with the necessary meetings or implementation activities.
- Implementation
Upon approval, the implementation phase begins where the actual changes are made to the IT environment. This step describes the full list of tasks that must be completed to move on to the next step. - Review
After the changes have been implemented, a review is conducted to ensure that the change meets the desired objectives and does not adversely affect other systems or processes.
Here, based on the review outcomes, a decision is made whether a rollback is necessary.
ROLLBACK: If the implemented change did not achieve the desired outcomes or caused unforeseen issues, it is undone.
ELSE: If the change is successful, no rollback is needed.
- Rollback triggers
Based on the previous review, there are two possible outcomes.
A. Rollback activities: Specific tasks are performed to revert the IT environment back to its original state if a rollback is initiated.
B. Notify change complete: Once the change process is completed (successfully implemented or rolled back), an email notification is sent to all stakeholders indicating that the change process is complete.
This workflow not only helps in managing changes efficiently but also ensures that all changes are well-documented, approved by relevant authorities, and communicated properly across the organization.
By following this structured approach, IT departments can minimize disruptions, manage risks more effectively, and ensure compliance with organizational standards and external regulations.
To sum up
Two of the main takeaways of this article are the importance of a controlled process for implementing changes and the benefits of using a systematic approach to manage these changes efficiently through change request workflows.
By integrating these principles, and using tools like InvGate Service Management to automate the process, IT teams can enhance service reliability and performance while meeting compliance and business needs.
Remember, the Change Management process is crucial for adapting to new challenges and ensuring the continuous improvement of IT services. And the change request kicks off that process.
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