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OpenSM™ Foundation

Make the management of your IT services more rational and sustainable

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About OpenSM™

OpenSM™ Overview

The OpenSM framework explains how to manage modern IT-enabled services, sustainably. It can help your organization adopt and improve service management.

It was developed by IN.SI. Srl, a company that has aggregated the contribution and interest of several organizations that are committed to developing and improving Service Management.

OpenSM is aimed at both organizations with a very low maturity in IT Service Management (ITSM), and companies that are already aware of ITSM Practices. OpenSM has combined common terminology and concepts from established frameworks, with the latest methodologies and technological advances.

IN.SI. Srl created OpenSM because the existing ITSM frameworks were not fit for purpose for many companies in Europe and other parts of the world who have not yet completed their journey to adopt the most consolidated ITSM practices. The average level of Service Management maturity meant many organizations could not adopt the advanced guidelines proposed by the latest versions of established frameworks such as ITIL® or COBIT®, for example. Other existing models lacked the overall structure needed to steer an ITSM implementation.

OpenSM is the only ITSM framework that offers a structure (through its operating model), and sustainable guidance appropriate for the maturity level of most companies in emerging markets, and also in many organizations in Europe and US.

The sustainability of organizations is probably the most important trend this decade, and maybe in the whole century. Environmental impact, but also social aspects and other elements of sustainability are becoming more and more important for all companies. IT services cannot ignore such issues. When OpenSM was developed, one of the embedded, structural elements was IT sustainability, encompassing environmental, social, workplace and procurement aspects of the IT Service Provider and related stakeholders. Building sustainability practices into this framework, even at foundation level, strongly differentiates OpenSM from other models. OpenSM can also integrate with existing frameworks, as it uses the same terminology and analogies found in these frameworks. An organization can therefore switch to OpenSM, even if they have already invested in other approaches.

Pricing is available from our Accredited Training Organizations.

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Who is OpenSM™ Certification for?

OpenSM™ Certification is designed for professionals working in or supporting IT Service Management, including:

  • Organizations with low maturity in ITSM beginning their journey.
  • Companies already practicing ITSM and seeking sustainable improvements.
  • Service managers, IT leaders, and consultants helping organizations adopt or enhance ITSM frameworks.

Benefits of OpenSM™

For Individuals

  • Gain practical understanding of how to manage IT-enabled services sustainably.
  • Learn how to combine established ITSM terminology with new methodologies and technologies.
  • Build knowledge of IT sustainability practices, including environmental, social, workplace and procurement aspects.
  • Gain a certification that enables you to contribute to improved service management outcomes in your organization.

For Organizations

  • Adopt a sustainable ITSM framework designed for organizations of all maturity levels.
  • Ensure your ITSM approach is aligned with environmental, social, and regulatory sustainability goals.
  • Integrate OpenSM with existing ITSM frameworks to strengthen governance and service delivery.
  • Provide your teams with the structure and guidance to successfully deliver and evolve IT-enabled services.

Success in 1 2 3

Over 2.6 million people in 192 countries have an APMG certification. Our certifications are used by 80% of the FTSE 100 and a third of the Fortune 500 and S&P 500, and are proven to deliver better outcomes.

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APMG is not a training provider. Please contact accredited training organizations listed on our website for prices, languages and dates. Alternatively, you can self-study for an exam directly through APMG.

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Pass the exam & receive a certificate

When you are ready to take your exam, book an online timeslot yourself with APMG, or your training organization may organize this for you. If you pass your exam APMG will issue you with a digital badge for you to share!

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OpenSM™ levels

OpenSM Foundation badge

OpenSM™ Foundation

Service Management made sustainable

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SFIA

The SFIA Framework is the global common reference for skills and competency for the digital world.

This APMG certification has been informally mapped against the SFIA Framework to indicate the skills that are addressed and referenced by the certification. Although it is not yet possible to claim this digital badge, the indicative skills can be used to plan your professional development through assessing the skills you have and the skills you need for the role you want.

SFIA badge knowledge
OpenSM™ Foundation

OpenSM™ Foundation

SFIA elements this certification confirms (endorsement)

Generic attribute Knowledge level 3

SFIA elements this would be useful for (development)

Same as above plus Knowledge level 4, Methods and tools level 5, Business process improvement level 5 and Organisational capability development level 5

FAQs

To become an Accredited Training Organization (ATO), apply for accreditation or contact your local APMG office. If suitable, you'll receive an invoice and undergo APMG International's ATO assessment.

Trainers must be sponsored by an Accredited Training Organization (ATO), which can be found using the APMG International search tool. The sponsoring ATO must submit a trainer application to APMG. 

The requirements, including pass marks of the exams, will vary depending on the certification, please get in touch for more information.

You can either contact your Training Organization to purchase a new exam, or you can purchase a new exam directly from our public exams website. For more information, see our more detailed article on resitting an exam.

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If you booked your exam directly with us, you will have 12 months to sit your exam which cannot be extended. If your exam was booked by a Training Organization, then you will need to reach out to them directly to request an extension to your expiry date.

  • The structure of the examinations depends on the level of certification.
  • Generally, entry-level examinations (Foundation Certifications) have a range of 40 minutes to 60 minutes to complete a multiple-choice exam, which may include 40 to 60 questions.
  • Practitioner examinations can range from 90 minutes to 120 minutes with an average of 80 complex multiple-choice questions.
  • The required score to pass an examination varies from one certification to another. You can find more information listed on the product page under exam details, to learn more about a particular examination.

  • Most training providers include the exams with their courses.
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  • After booking, you'll receive a registration email to schedule your session through the Candidate Portal, with exams available 24/7.

PMI Professional Development Units (PDUs) are either: Education or Giving Back to the Profession. You can earn PMI Education PDUs by attending non-PMI provider courses if they align with the PMI Talent Triangle® skill areas. Visit the PMI website for details on PDUs, how to record them and required documentation.

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