ITIL4-DPI ITIL 4 Strategist: Direct, Plan and Improve (DPI) Questions and Answers

DPI emphasizesusing existing, familiar, and effective communication channelsto encourage staff feedback and engagement. By leveraging collaboration tools that teams already use (Option A), managers minimize resistance and maximize participation. Option B is localized and limited in scale. Option C delays feedback until a project is implemented. Option D is one-way communication, not interactive.

(Reference: ITIL® 4 Strategist DPI, section on "OCM – communication and feedback channels")

In ITIL 4 DPI,policiesare the high-level expectations, rules, or guidelines that are defined by the organization’sgoverning body. They establish the framework for decision-making and behaviour.Controls, on the other hand, are management mechanisms used to enforce policies and ensure compliance. Thus, policies come fromgovernance, while controls are implemented bymanagementto enforce those policies.

(Reference: ITIL® 4 Strategist DPI, section on "Policies, controls, and guidelines – governance vs. management responsibilities")

In DPI,planning and risk management are inseparable. Every plan should consider uncertainties and include mitigation strategies. Option B captures this integration directly. Option A is misleading: both planning and risk management happen at all levels. Option C partially reflects the relationship but is incomplete. Option D contradicts DPI guidance:risk management is an organizational responsibility, not just for specialists.

(Reference: ITIL® 4 Strategist DPI, section on "Integration of planning and risk management")

In DPI,scope of controlrefers to theauthority and influence a manager has over people and activities. It defines how far their decision-making power extends—essential for ensuring clarity in governance and accountability. It is not about risks owned (B), reporting relationships (D), or specific improvement content (A).

(Reference: ITIL® 4 Strategist DPI, section on "Governance structures – scope of control vs. span of control")

DPI highlightsSWOT analysisas a key assessment tool for mergers, acquisitions, or major integrations. SWOT helps organizations understandinternal capabilities (strengths/weaknesses)andexternal market factors (opportunities/threats). This is critical when combining practices and cultures to ensure strengths are leveraged and weaknesses are mitigated. Customer satisfaction (B) and SLA analysis (D) are narrow operational measures. Change readiness (C) is useful but does not fully assess strategic alignment.

(Reference: ITIL® 4 Strategist DPI, section on "Assessment methods – SWOT analysis in organizational change")

DPI highlights thatcompliancerefers to meetinglegal, regulatory, and policy requirements. By following local laws, the organization ensuresimproved compliance. Governance (A) is the system of oversight but does not automatically result from law adherence. Risks (B) are reduced, not increased, by compliance. Value (D) is indirectly supported but not guaranteed. Thus, compliance is the direct outcome.

(Reference: ITIL® 4 Strategist DPI, section on "Governance, risk, and compliance (GRC)")

DPI emphasizesgovernance by defining clear decision-making authority. High-risk or strategic decisions should remain with executives, but less critical decisions must bedelegatedthrough policies to appropriate levels of management. This prevents bottlenecks and ensures accountability while balancing governance oversight. Options A and B may reduce delays but lack structured governance, while D risks insufficient control.

(Reference: ITIL® 4 Strategist DPI, section on "Delegation of decision-making and governance structures")

In DPI,value stream mappingidentifies bottlenecks, redundancies, and delays. Eliminating repeated activities to save time is an example ofworkflow optimization(Option C). This reflects Lean principles embedded in DPI — improving flow, reducing waste, and enhancing efficiency. Cascading goals (A), effective practices (B), and objectives for assessments (D) are unrelated to workflow waste elimination.

(Reference: ITIL® 4 Strategist DPI, section on "Value stream mapping – optimizing workflow and eliminating waste")

ITIL DPI appliesLean principlessuch as theelimination of waste. Repeated reassignments and delays in incident handling represent a form of waste in workflow. Improving accuracy of escalation removes unnecessary handoffs and accelerates resolution, optimizing flow. This aligns with Lean-inspired waste elimination. OCM (D) is about managing people through change, not fixing workflow inefficiencies.

(Reference: ITIL® 4 Strategist DPI, section on "Lean principles – eliminate waste and optimize flow")