The release planning and coordination process in ITIL 4 Release Management requires inputs toensure effective planning and execution of releases. TheITIL® 4 Practitioner: Release Managementdocument specifies:"Key inputs to release planning and coordination include details about the users who will be affected, as this helps in scheduling and communicating the release to minimize disruption"(Section 3.2.1).
Option A (Documented findings on the success of a release) is an output of a release evaluation, not an input to planning.
Option B (Updates to the continual improvement register) may inform long-term improvements but isn’t a direct input to planning a specific release.
Option C (Details about the users who will be affected) is a critical input, as understanding the user base helps tailor the release schedule, communication, and impact mitigation strategies.
Option D (Notifications to stakeholders about the release status) is an output of the release process, not an input to planning.
The correct answer is C, as user details are essential for effective release planning and coordination.
In ITIL 4, a release is defined as the output of the release management practice that is made available to users. TheITIL® 4 Practitioner: Release Managementdocument states:"A release is a version of a service or a set of service components that is made available for use. It often includes new or changed features that deliver value to users"(Section 2.2).
Option A (A set of new service features that will benefit users) aligns with the definition, as a release typically includes new or changed features intended to provide value to users.
Option B (The repeated building and testing of code) describes a development process (e.g., continuous integration), not the release itself.
Option C (All updated service versions that are mandatory for users) is incorrect because releases are not always mandatory; ITIL 4 allows for push or pull approaches.
Option D (Guidelines for collating changes) describes a process or policy, not the release itself.
The correct description of a release is a set of features or components made available for use, making A the correct answer.
A release manager has noticed that the organization has many standardized services provided to international organizations. Which aspect of release management will this situation directly affect?
Standardized services provided to international organizations imply a need for consistency andscalability in how releases are managed across diverse contexts. TheITIL® 4 Practitioner: Release Managementdocument explains that release models are used to standardize the approach to releases:"Release models define the structure, contents, and schedule of releases… They ensure consistent and repeatable processes, which is particularly important for organizations with standardized services"(Section 3.2.2).
Option A (The release plans) refers to specific plans for individual releases, which may be affected indirectly but are not the primary aspect impacted by standardization needs.
Option B (Continuous integration) and Option C (Continuous delivery) are development practices that may interact with release management but are not directly affected by the need for standardization across international services.
Option D (The release models) is directly affected, as standardized services require well-defined release models to ensure consistency, repeatability, and scalability across international contexts.
The situation directly impacts the design and application of release models to accommodate standardized services globally. Thus, the correct answer is D.
[Reference: ITIL® 4 Practitioner: Release Management , Section 3.2.2: Release Model Development and Improvement.]