Distinction between ITIL and PMBOK

ITIL (formerly an acronym for Information Technology Infrastructure Library) is a set of detailed practices for IT service management (ITSM) that focuses on aligning IT services with the needs of business. In its current form (known as ITIL 2011), ITIL is published as a series of five core volumes, each of which covers a different ITSM lifecycle stage. Although ITIL underpins ISO/IEC 20000 (previously BS 15000), the International Service Management Standard for IT service management, there are some differences between the ISO 20000 standard, ICT Standard by IFGICT and the ITIL framework.

ITIL describes processes, procedures, tasks, and checklists which are not organization-specific or technology-specific, but can be applied by an organization for establishing integration with the organization's strategy, delivering value, and maintaining a minimum level of competency. It allows the organization to establish a baseline from which it can plan, implement, and measure. It is used to demonstrate compliance and to measure improvement. There is no formal independent third party compliance assessment available for ITIL compliance in an organisation. Certification in ITIL is only available to individuals and relates to their knowledge of the five books.

The Project Management Body of Knowledge is a set of standard terminology and guidelines (a body of knowledge) for project management. The body of knowledge evolves over time and is presented in A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (the Guide to the PMBOK or the Guide), a book whose sixth edition was released in 2017. The Guide is a document resulting from work overseen by the Project Management Institute (PMI), which offers the CAPM and PMP certifications.

Much of the PMBOK Guide is unique to project management e.g. critical path method and work breakdown structure (WBS). The PMBOK Guide also overlaps with general management regarding planning, organising, staffing, executing and controlling the operations of an organisation.

Distinction between ITIL and PMBOK

ITIL	PMBOK
ITIL is focused on Service Delivery and Service Level Management.	The PMBOK Guide is process-based, meaning it describes work as being accomplished by processes
ITIL advocates that IT services must be aligned to the needs of the business and underpin the core business processes. It provides guidance guidance to organizations on how to use IT as a tool to facilitate business change, transformation and growth.	The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) is a collection of processes and knowledge areas generally accepted as best practice within the project management discipline. As an internationally recognised standard (IEEE Std 1490-2003) it provides the fundamentals of project management, irrespective of the type of project be it construction software, engineering, automotive etc
ITIL Version 3 framework defines five phases of IT Service Management Lifecycle. These are part of the ITIL Version 3 Core publications. They are: Service Stategy Service Design Service Transition Service Operation Continual Service Improvement	PMBOK recognises 5 basic process groups and 9 knowledge areas typical of almost all projects. The basic concepts are applicable to projects, programs and operations. The five basic process groups are:The five basic process groups are: 1. Initiating 2. Planning 3. Executing 4. Monitoring and Controlling 5. Closing
There are mainly four IT functions as per the ITIL Version 3 framework. They are: Service Desk IT Operations Management function	Processes overlap and interact throughout a project or phase. Processes are described in terms of: Inputs (documents, plans, designs, etc.), Tools and Techniques (mechanisms applied to inputs) & Outputs (documents, products, etc.). The nine knowledge areas are: 1. Project Integration Management 2. Project Scope Management 3. Project Time Management 4. Project Cost Management 5. Project Quality Management
Application Management Function Technical Management Function	6. Project Human Resource Management 7. Project Communications Management 8. Project Risk Management 9. Project Procurement Management
ITIL describes the ideal end state that an organisation would like to achieve.	Much of PMBOK is unique to project management e.g. critical path and work breakdown structure (WBS).
ITIL focuses on the lifecycle of services.	PMBOK focuses on the lifecycle of projects.
The decision as to undertake a project will be made as a result of ITIL Service Strategy and Service Design	The project team may then use PMBOK best practices for accomplishing the goal, objective or output identified during Strategy and Design
ITIL is specific to IT only.	PMBOK project management can be applied to any domain, such as Civil Engineering Construction or Public Sector or IT
ITIL addresses how IT organisations as a whole should operate.	PMP addresses how individual projects within the organisation should be executed.
By taking a larger view of services in the organisation as a whole via a lifecycle approach, ITIL sets out to examine service strategy, service design, service transition, service operation, and continual service improvement.	PMP applies to projects throughout the entire organisation not just IT. The PMP framework, focusing on effective execution of projects, can be applied to any area of any organisation
Take, for example, an organisation that is building and deploying an email service – on one level, ITIL will evaluate what is needed.	PMP will then take this information and further break it down into easier-to-manage increments.
ITIL provides a Body of Knowledge for managing IT Operations which are repetitive in nature.	PMBOK provides a Body of Knowledge (BOK) for managing Projects which are a “temporary endeavor” in general
ITIL Version 3 has 23 processes and 4 IT functions	The latest PMBOK 4th edition has totally 42 processes for the Project Management Body of Knowledge
The UK Office of Government Commerce (OGC) is responsible for the management and distribution of materials on the ITIL framework	In the US, the Project Management Institute manages the PMP certification. The PMP certification is based on content contained in the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), a book published by the PMI