Performance measurement of IT service management: a case study of an Australian university

Abstract

IT departments are adopting service orientation by implementing IT service management (ITSM) frameworks. Most organisations are hesitant to discuss their ITSM performance measurement practices, tending to focus more on challenges. However there are good practices that are found amidst the challenges. We present a case study that provides an account of the performance measurement practices in the ICT Division of an Australian university. This case study was conducted with the aim of understanding the internal and external factors that influence the selection of ITSM performance metrics. It also explores how and why metrics and frameworks are used to measure the performance of ITSM in organisations. Interviews were conducted to identify the specific ITSM performance metrics used and how they were derived. It was found that a number of factors internal and external to the organisation influenced the selection of the performance metrics. The internal factors include meeting the need for improved governance, alignment of IT strategy with organisation strategy, having a mechanism to provide feedback to IT customers (university staff and students). External factors include benchmarking against others in the same industry and the choice of metrics offered by ITSM software tool adopted.