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FAQ’s For SIAM®
We will aim to keep this blog article up to date. As and when we get new questions regarding SIAM® we will add them to our frequently asked questions list.
What Is SIAM®?
SIAM® stands for Service Integration and Management. It is a methodology used to manage multiple service providers and to integrate them seamlessly to provide a single business-facing IT organisation. SIAM® may also be considered to be multi-sourcing integration (MSI).
What Businesses Should Be Interested In SIAM®
SIAM® should be considered by any organisation that has multiple internal and external service providers and which wants to control them via a single integration layer. It may also be of use to organisations wishing to offer its services as a Service integrator, i.e. a lead supplier or managed service provider (MSP).
What Integrator Model Options Are There?
SIAM® suggests that there are four model options for the Service Integrator layer, being:
- Internal
- External
- Hybrid (mix of internal and external)
- Lead Service Provider
The SIAM® Foundation course looks at the advantages and disadvantages of the different models and how they could be deployed.
I Only Have A Small Number Of Suppliers - Is This Still Relevant To Me?
It depends on a number of factors. Each organisation needs to consider SIAM® on a case by case basis.
Will Adopting SIAM® Save My Organisation Money?
Not necessarily, there may be long term savings but may require an initial investment in establishing the most appropriate SIAM® model for your organisation. It will certainly allow you to focus more on your customers’ needs rather than focus on how to manage an ever-growing number of suppliers.
What Is Scopism’s Role In SIAM®?
Scopism is an independent company that created the SIAM® Body of Knowledge (BoK) and worked with the Examination institutes (BCS, EXIN and APMG) to put together the training course programs.
A free download of the body of knowledge for SIAM® Foundation and Professional has kindly been made available by Scopism (https://www.scopism.com/free-downloads/).
Is SIAM® A Sought After Qualification?
As more and more organisations outsource services or move to cloud service provision then managing service providers becomes increasingly more difficult. This trend has led to an increased demand for people who have knowledge of SIAM®.
Who Will Benefit From Attending SIAM® Training?
This certification is aimed at professionals worldwide who have an interest in the practices of Service Integration and Management or that want to implement this methodology in an organisation, in particular, those professionals who are already working with IT Service Management processes. Furthermore, the Service Integration And Management (SIAM®) Foundation certification is intended for providers that want to implement and manage Service Integration and Management models.
The following roles could be interested in this module:
- Chief Strategy Officers (CSOs)
- Chief Information Officers (CIOs)
- Chief Technical Officers (CTOs)
- Service Managers
- Service Provider Portfolio Strategists/Leads
- Process Managers
- Project Managers
- Change Managers
- Service Level Managers
- Business Relationship Managers
- Program Managers
- Supplier Managers
- Service Architects
- Process Architects
- Business Change Practitioners
- Organisational Change Practitioners
What Are The Options For Training?
There are currently two courses available. The Service Integration And Management (SIAM®) Foundation certificate and the Service Integration And Management (SIAM®) Professional certificate. Each is a three-day training course that culminates in an invigilated exam. Success in the exam results in an accredited certification.
Is There Any Pre-Reading For SIAM® Training?
It is expected that candidates will have read the appropriate body of knowledge for each course. A link to the BoK will be sent to the candidate with the course joining instructions. Service Integration And Management (SIAM®) Foundation candidates are expected to have undertaken 40 hours of study and Service Integration And Management (SIAM®) Professional candidates are required to complete 60 hours of study.
How Long Are The SIAM® Exams?
Service Integration And Management (SIAM®) Foundation: The exam has a duration of 60 minutes and consists of 40 multiple-choice questions. The pass mark is 26/40.
Service Integration And Management (SIAM®) Professional: The exam has a duration of 90 minutes and consists of 40 multiple-choice questions based on a case study. The pass mark is 26/40
Does SIAM® Integrate With Other Frameworks And Methodologies?
It most certainly does. The SIAM® training describes the contribution of the following frameworks and standards to a SIAM® ecosystem: IT Service Management including ITIL® and ISO/IEC 20000, Agile, including Agile Service Management, DevOps, COBIT and Lean.
It is highly integrated with the ITIL® Framework and other processes including:
- Service Portfolio Management
- Monitoring and Measuring
- Event Management
- Incident Management
- Problem Management
- Change & Release Management
- Configuration Management
- Service Level Management
- Supplier Management
- Contract Management
- Business Relationship Management
- Financial Management
- Information Security Management
- Continual Service Improvement
- Knowledge Management
- Toolset & Information Management
- Project Management
- Audit & Control
What Is The Difference Between The SIAM® Foundation & SIAM® Professional Course?
The SIAM® Foundation tests a candidate’s knowledge and understanding of the terminology and the core principles. This SIAM® certification covers themes such as: potential benefits as well as the challenges and risks of implementing Service Integration and Management. The SIAM® certification also includes examples of implementation structures, governance, tooling and data considerations and the common processes used in a SIAM ecosystem. A candidate who successfully completes the BCS EXIN SIAM® Foundation knows how Service Integration and Management delivers business value and is able to contribute to the implementation and use of SIAM in an organisation.
By the end of the Service Integration And Management (SIAM®) Foundation level training course, you will be able to:
- Understand the history, adoption and benefits of SIAM®
- Demonstrate understanding of the SIAM® roadmap
- Describe SIAM® structures and their advantages/disadvantages
- Work effectively in a SIAM® organisation
- Articulate the benefits of SIAM®
- Identify potential improvements in his/her own organisation
- Understand process theory and have an awareness of common processes in a SIAM® environment
- Understand SIAM® tooling and data considerations
- Understand governance considerations for SIAM®
The Service Integration And Management (SIAM®) Professional level training course focuses on the four stages of implementing a SIAM® model and assumes that the delegate has existing knowledge of the SIAM® basics.
The Service Integration And Management (SIAM®) Professional tests a candidate’s knowledge and skills of the activities in the four stages of the SIAM® roadmap:
- The Discovery & Strategy Stage
- The Plan & Build Stage
- The Implement stage
- The Run & Improve Stage
- SIAM® Practices Across The Stages
Is The SIAM® Foundation Course A Prerequisite For Taking The SIAM® Professional Course?
The Service Integration And Management (SIAM®) Foundation training course is not a prerequisite for attending the higher level Service Integration And Management (SIAM®) Professional training course but it is highly recommended for those that have little or no previous experience of SIAM®.
Is SIAM® Training Available As On-Site Training?
Yes, both courses are available as dedicated on-site training courses. Contact Purple Griffon for available dates and costs.
How Do I Find Out More About SIAM® & The Training Courses?
All you have to do is contact one of our friendly Account Managers on +44 (0)1539 736 828 or [email protected].
And before you go, you might like to read this post looking at the difference between ITAM and SACM in ITIL4.
You might also want to reads this post: What is ITIL Service Management?
