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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

Please contact us via email addressed to customerservice@apmgroup.co.uk. Please review our policies before submitting your written feedback.

Unfortunately, no. Only Accredited Training Organizations and their registered partners are authorized to use these logos. If you do not fall under these categories and would like to request permission to use the logo, please contact the APMG-International Service Desk (servicedesk@apmg-international.com).

However, successful candidates are able to share and display their digital badge publicly.

Some certifications do not require training in order to take the exam however, for most certifications, training is advised. 

For some certifications individuals also have the option to self-study in preparation for the exam and, when they are ready, can even take the exam from the comfort of their home or office.

You can find details of our self-study exams, available to purchase, via our public exams portal.

Most, if not all, of our certifications come with at least one Sample Exam to help participants prepare for their exam. Access to the Sample Exams can be located on our website.

If you are sitting the examination through an Accredited Training Organization, the cost of the exam is generally included in the course fee. Please ensure you confirm with your training provider that the exam is included in these costs. 

If you have selected a self-study option, please note that APMG-International uses a global pricing model for all exams. The examination fees for candidates attending a public exam centre are determined by the location where the exams are administered.

To find out the costs in your region, please refer to our examination portal or contact the APMG-International Service Desk (servicedesk@apmg-international.com).

Candidates will be able to claim their digital badge and electronic certificate from the APMG Candidate Portal within two business days of their exam result being issued.

Once you’ve been notified that you’ve passed your exam, you will have the option to create a digital badge in APMG's Candidate Portal.

Visit APMG's Candidate Portal, view your exam results and select 'Create Badge'.

This takes you to the Credly website where the digital badges are hosted. You will be guided through the Credly account creation process.

Once you have created an account with Credly, log into the account and accept your pending badge.

  • Provisional results: After completing the Foundation examination, candidates may receive provisional results either orally from the invigilator or on-screen at the end of an online exam.
  • Official results: Once processed, official results, including a PDF breakdown of marks by syllabus area, are available in the APMG Candidate Portal. Results are issued as the total number of marks achieved.
  • Processing time: Exam papers are usually marked immediately after the exam. APMG formally processes and confirms results via the Candidate Portal within 2 working days of receiving completed papers.
  • Outstanding payments: In exceptional cases, results may be withheld until full payment has been received.

Get in touch

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