ITSM Foundations: Optimizing IT Service Management
Ends soon! Keep adding new skills with 10,000+ programs for $239 (usually $399). Save now.
ITSM Foundations: Optimizing IT Service Management
Instructors: Ali Saghaeian
1,874 already enrolled
Included with
Ask Coursera
Recommended experience
Recommended experience
What you'll learn
Explain core ITSM concepts, ITIL principles, and the foundational role of ServiceNow in IT service delivery.
Apply ServiceNow to manage the life cycle of service requests, incidents, and problems.
Utilize ServiceNow to execute IT change management (standard, normal, emergency) and release management processes.
Analyze interdependencies among incident, problem, change, and release management processes facilitated by ServiceNow.
Skills you'll gain
Tools you'll learn
Details to know
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills
There are 3 modules in this course
Hey there, future ServiceNow pros and ITSM trailblazers!
Ready to stop firefighting and start mastering IT services like a pro? You're in the right place. In this learning journey, we’re going to flip the script on how you manage incidents, changes, and service requests—all through the power of ServiceNow, the industry’s go-to ITSM platform. Let’s face it: IT teams today are the backbone of every business. But managing services the old way? That’s like using a flip phone in a 5G world. It’s time to upgrade—and this course gives you the tools to do just that. You’ll dive into the core principles of IT Service Management (ITSM) and the best of ITIL, then bring it all to life inside ServiceNow. We’re talking hands-on experience managing incidents, solving problems, handling service requests, and rolling out changes without the chaos. You’ll also learn how to handle major incidents and releases like a boss—no more scrambling when things go sideways. We’ll walk you through setting up your own free ServiceNow Personal Developer Instance so you can get real, practical experience. This isn’t just theory—it’s skills you can use today. This course is designed for individuals stepping into the world of IT Service Management (ITSM), including those new to IT support, service delivery, or operations. It’s ideal for aspiring professionals seeking a structured and hands-on introduction to ITSM concepts and the ServiceNow platform. Junior ServiceNow users, developers, administrators, and IT support staff such as help desk and service desk analysts will find this course particularly valuable. Additionally, business analysts, project coordinators, and process owners who collaborate with IT services will benefit from gaining a clearer understanding of ITSM frameworks and terminology to enhance cross-functional communication. No prior experience in ITSM or ServiceNow is required for this course. Learners should have basic computer literacy and be comfortable navigating the web. The course is beginner-friendly and provides a solid foundation, making it accessible to anyone interested in IT service delivery or platform-based process management. By the end of the course, learners will be able to articulate core ITSM concepts, ITIL principles, and how ServiceNow supports modern IT service delivery. They will develop hands-on skills in managing service requests, incidents, and problems and executing change and release management using ServiceNow. Furthermore, learners will analyze how these key processes are interconnected within ServiceNow, equipping them to drive more efficient, automated, and effective IT operations.
In this course, you’ll explore the core principles and real-world applications of IT Service Management (ITSM) through the lens of the ServiceNow platform. Through hands-on experience with a free ServiceNow Personal Developer Instance, you’ll learn to manage incidents, service requests, problems, and changes, as well as execute release and major incident processes. You’ll also examine how automation and ITIL best practices enhance service delivery, empowering you to streamline operations and drive business value.
What's included
5 videos1 reading1 assignment
5 videos•Total 27 minutes
- Meet Your Course Guide•3 minutes
- ITSM and Managing IT as a Service •4 minutes
- ITSM Frameworks: Guiding Your Approach (Introducing ITIL) •6 minutes
- Introducing the ServiceNow Platform for ITSM •9 minutes
- Your ServiceNow Sandbox: Getting a Personal Developer Instance (PDI) •5 minutes
1 reading•Total 5 minutes
- What is ITSM?•5 minutes
1 assignment•Total 10 minutes
- Hands On Learning (HOL): Request your PDI and Install an Application in ServiceNow •10 minutes
In this lesson, you’ll dive into the heart of ITSM operations by learning how to identify, classify, and manage service requests, incidents, and problems. Using real-world scenarios and hands-on practice in ServiceNow, you’ll explore how each category drives different workflows—and why getting it right matters. By the end, you’ll be able to triage incoming issues with confidence, streamline resolution paths, and reduce recurring disruptions across your organization.
What's included
3 videos1 reading1 assignment
3 videos•Total 34 minutes
- Service Request Management: Delivering Services Efficiently •9 minutes
- Incident Management: Restoring Service Fast (Including Major Incidents) •12 minutes
- Problem Management: Finding Root Causes and Preventing Future Issues •14 minutes
1 reading•Total 5 minutes
- What is Service Request Management?•5 minutes
1 assignment•Total 20 minutes
- Hands On Learning (HOL): Create a Problem and Associate Related Incidents in ServiceNow •20 minutes
In this lesson, learners step into the world of service transitions, where timing, coordination, and risk management are everything. They’ll explore how ServiceNow’s Change and Release Management tools help organizations move from reactive chaos to proactive control. Throughout this lesson, learners will evaluate transition strategies, identify common pitfalls, and propose improvements that balance speed, stability, and stakeholder confidence.
What's included
4 videos1 reading3 assignments
4 videos•Total 36 minutes
- IT Change Management: Understanding Standard Changes in ServiceNow •9 minutes
- Normal and Emergency Changes and the Change Advisory Board (CAB) •14 minutes
- Release Management: Coordinating and Deploying Changes •9 minutes
- Congratulations and Continuous Learning Journey•3 minutes
1 reading•Total 5 minutes
- What is IT Change Management?•5 minutes
3 assignments•Total 70 minutes
- Hands On Learning (HOL): Create and Manage an Emergency Change for an Incident •20 minutes
- Incident Response Planning: Building Your Command Center •30 minutes
- ITSM Foundations: Optimizing IT Service Management•20 minutes
Instructors
Why people choose Coursera for their career
Frequently asked questions
To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.
More questions
Financial aid available,
¹ Some assignments in this course are AI-graded. For these assignments, your data will be used in accordance with Coursera's Privacy Notice.
