The official BiSL® certification from APMG
The Business Information Services Library (BiSL) was launched into the public domain as a library for business information management. The library consists of publications describing the process framework for business information management and a large number of best practices, white papers, articles and presentations.
BiSL provides guidance on how to adopt a professional and systematic approach to the management of business information, a comprehensive process framework for business information management. It is supported by a growing number of best practices. Through the publication of the framework and numerous publications and the establishment of a foundation to maintain it, BiSL has become part of the public domain. One of the most important benefits of the framework is that a common language and terms of reference are provided to the market.
While IT ensures that information is stored, processed and readily available, effective business information management ensures that an organization is able to respond to specific business demands, and to actually realize the value from their investments.
BiSL identifies processes at the following three levels:
• Operational - the operational processes involve the day-to-day use of the information provisioning, and designing and effecting changes to the latter;
• Managing – the management processes involve costs, benefits, planning, and quality of the information provisioning and arrangements with IT suppliers;
• Strategic –the processes at the strategic level define the nature of the information provisioning in the long-term and also how its management should be structured.
Certify your ability to:
- Understand the processes involved in the execution of business information management from operations to strategy.
- Improve how business information management is currently executed.
- Bridge the gap between business information management and the neighbouring domains of application development, application management and IT services management.
BiSL Framework
The BiSL examinations are supported by the text BiSL - A Framework for Business Information Management.
There are currently three versions of the BiSL framework:
- 2nd edition. The BiSL Advanced exam is based on the 2nd edition of the BiSL Framework and the exam is available in Dutch and English until 31 December 2024. After this time it will not be possible to book or take the BiSL Advanced exam.
- 3rd edition. The BiSL Foundation (2020) exam is based on the 3rd edition of the BiSL Framework and the exam is available in Dutch only until 31 December 2024. After this time it will not be possible to book or take the BiSL Foundation (2020) exam.
- 4th edition. The BiSL 4 Foundation (2024) exam is based on the 4th edition of the BiSL Framework and the exam is available in Dutch only.
- 4th edition. The BiSL Practitioner (2024) exam is based on the 4th edition of the BiSL Framework and the exam is available in Dutch only.
Candidates studying for the BiSL Advanced exam can study using either the 2nd edition or 3rd edition of the BiSL Framework. However, if studying with the 3rd edition, there are some differences in terminology used in the exam. To understand the differences between the two editions, please see the ‘BiSL 3rd edition: what has changed’ document available to download from the right-hand side of this page. Please note that the BiSL Advanced examination will be withdrawn from 31 December 2024.
BiSL 4th edition - coming in 2024!
In early 2024, a revision of BiSL took place. This was mainly a visual update to reflect modern trends and changes and, in terms of content, not too much changed in the BISL method. To achieve this, the book was revised to BiSL, Een framework voor Business Information Management 4e editie’ (BiSL® 4th edition – A Framework for business information management.).
Updated Foundation training courses and the 4th edition of the BiSL book are now live.
A new BiSL Practitioner exam launched in September 2024. The Practitioner exam is based on a new book: De functioneel beheerder en BISL - 2de Herziene Druk available from Van Haren Publishing.
As a result of the forthcoming launch of the new BiSL Practitioner exam, APMG will be withdrawing the BiSL Advanced exam on 31 December 2024. After this date, it will not be possible to book and/or sit BiSL Advanced exams.
Foundation
Gain the knowledge needed to work in a business information management role.
- Business roles such as key users, business system administrators, system owners, process owners, (Agile) product owners, information managers, business analysts, contract managers who deal with demand and use of information and technology.
- Customer facing senior ITSM professionals (e.g. Service Managers, BRMs) who want a better understanding of the activities on the ‘other side of the fence’ in order to collaborate more effectively with their business counterparts.
- Business information management process improvement consultants.
- Auditors who want to ensure that the business is fulfilling their responsibilities to manage information as a critical business asset.
- The background and positioning of business information management and the BiSL framework.
- The key messages, objectives and subjects of the BiSL clusters.
- The objectives and subjects of the BiSL clusters and processes.
- The activities and results of the BiSL operational and management processes.
- The interrelations between the BiSL clusters and processes.
BiSL Foundation (2020)
- Multiple choice
- 40 questions
- 26 marks required to pass (out of 40 available) - 65%
- 60 minutes duration
- Closed-book
BiSL 4 Foundation
- Multiple choice
- 40 questions
- 24 marks required to pass (out of 40 available) - 60%
- 60 minutes duration
- Closed-book
Advanced
Learn the ways in which an organization can set up and execute its business information management.
- BiSL Foundation Level Certificate
- Those who work in BIM operations (dealing with information systems / IT / information used by user organizations) and would like to learn more about applying BiSL in order to improve their work processes. E.g. business analysts, business information administrators, or information consultants.
- Those who are ‘responsible’ for control, improvement and/or implementation of business information management. E.g. team leaders, team managers, project managers or process or quality consultants.
- The added value of business information management and the preconditions that need to be met in order for business information management to actually deliver the added value and meet the expectations.
- How to determine whether implementing business information management (where BiSL can be used as a supportive framework) may be expedient in a given situation.
- Multiple choice
- 40 questions
- 26 marks required to pass (out of 40 available) - 65%
- 75 minutes duration
- Closed-book
Practitioner
Turn theoretical knowledge of the BiSL® framework into practical.
BiSL Foundation Level Certificate
- The BiSL Practitioner level is designed for professionals who are involved in managing and improving business information management (BIM) processes within an organization. E.g. business analysts, business information administrators, or information consultants.
- Target audiences for the BiSL Practitioner level also include: Business Information Managers, Functional Managers, Process Managers, Service Managers, Consultants.
- Ability to turn theoretical knowledge of the BiSL® framework into practical implementations within an organisation.
- How to apply the BiSL theory for organisational improvement of BIM, setting up and improving BIM processes using BiSL.
- Multiple choice
- 40 questions
- 26 marks required to pass (out of 40 available) - 65%
- 60 minutes duration
- Closed-book
