dienstportfolio

Dienstportfolio, often translated as service portfolio, is a structured collection of services managed by an organization to deliver value to customers and stakeholders. It represents the full range of services across their lifecycle and provides a basis for investment decisions, prioritization, and governance. The portfolio is typically divided into three segments: the service pipeline (services proposed or under development), the service catalog (services currently offered to customers), and retired services (decommissioned or sunsetted offerings).

In IT service management, Service Portfolio Management coordinates the lifecycle of services from ideation through retirement, ensuring alignment with business strategy, financial constraints, and risk management. It interfaces with demand management, capacity planning, and financial management to balance supply and demand. Key roles include service owners or product managers who oversee individual services and a portfolio governance body or portfolio manager who oversees the entire set of services. Artifacts commonly used are business cases, service level expectations, cost structures, and ownership assignments.

Lifecycle and decision points are central: ideas move from pipeline to catalog after evaluation and approval; services evolve during operation and may be retired when no longer viable. The service catalog, published to customers, reflects current offerings, while the pipeline contains future services awaiting approval.

Benefits of a well-managed dienstportfolio include greater transparency, improved investment prioritization, better capacity planning, and stronger realization of value. Challenges include maintaining data quality, avoiding excessive bureaucracy, and ensuring ongoing alignment with strategy.