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ServiceDesk Plus · Admin Guide

Plan Change

Map out a detailed plan to execute the proposed change. The change management team can plan the change goals and guidelines, contemplate how to implement the change, prepare fallback plans, plan outages, and set time frames to implement the change stage-by-stage.

The details in submission stage cannot be edited after the change request crosses planning stage. 

Details

The Details sub-tab in planning stage displays the following sections that analyze the change:

  • Impact Analysis - Records the effect of the change pre and post implementation.
  • Rollout Plan - Discusses if the change can be implemented in phases, brought out wholly, or via a project/release request.
  • Backout Plan - Contains the contingency plan to be implemented in case change technicians decide to back out of the change. The detailed procedure on how to back out by restoring the organization to last working state is described here.
  • Checklist - Lists the essential steps to verify whether the change implementation is completed with all requirements.

 

The various analyses can be added manually using Add New option or Illustration 1: Plan Change icon. Alternatively, you can also go to Actions menu to add various analyses to the planning stage.

 

Technicians can also add planning-related documents as attachments. 

Additional fields configured with the planning stage are also displayed in this tab.

 

Illustration 2: Plan Change

 

Schedule Change Planning

Plan the time to release the change and schedule service downtimes that might occur when the change is implemented.

 

To add the planned change schedule in the Schedule sub-tab, click Edit beside Release Schedule to enter all details. You can also click Illustration 3: Plan Change beside a field to update it.

 

Illustration 4: Plan Change

 

To add details about planned downtimes,

  1. Click Add Downtime. You can also select Actions > Add Downtime from the toolbar.
  2. Describe the downtime details. This is mandatory.
  3. Select the downtime type.
  4. Enter the time the downtime is scheduled to start and end.
  5. Click Save.

 

Illustration 5: Plan Change

 

You can edit downtimes by clicking Illustration 6: Plan Change. To delete downtimes, select the downtime and click Illustration 7: Plan Change on the toolbar.

 

Illustration 8: Plan Change

 

Downtimes added in planning stage will be reflected in the release stage as well. 
Ensure the schedule start and end times are configured for downtime to allow technicians to update the downtime while releasing the change. 
You cannot add downtimes after the change request crosses planning stage. 

Add Tasks

You can add and manage tasks to break down the work involved in the planning stage.

In the Tasks sub-tab,

  • Click Illustration 9: Plan Change to add a task. You can also quick add tasks by clicking Illustration 10: Plan Change.
  • To add tasks from existing change task templates, click Illustration 11: Plan Change.
  • Click Organize to set the order in which tasks must be executed.
  • Click Dependencies to set parent-child relationship between tasks.
  • Click Illustration 12: Plan Change to edit, delete, or close a task. You can also select multiple tasks and click Illustration 13: Plan Change on the toolbar to close or delete tasks in bulk.
  • Select multiple tasks and use the toolbar buttons to pick up, assign or trigger tasks.

 

Illustration 14: Plan Change

 

Click on a task name to open the task details page. You can view the comprehensive details of the task, spot-edit the task fields, add comments or work logs, and track history from the task details page.

You can also manage tasks from the Actions menu on the toolbar or from the Tasks tab on the left pane. Learn more.

Add Notes

Technicians can add notes add important information relevant to planning the change and tag users to notify them.

In the Notes sub-tab,

  • Click Add Notes. Add the notes details and enter @ to tag users.
  • Click Edit on a note to modify the note content. You can only edit the notes added by you.
  • Click Delete on a note to remove the note.
  • Click Illustration 15: Plan Change or Illustration 16: Plan Change beside Add Notes option to expand or collapse all notes.
  • Click Illustration 17: Plan Change to sort the order in which the notes are displayed.

 

Illustration 18: Plan Change

 

 

You can also add notes from the Actions menu on the toolbar or from the Notes tab on the left pane. Learn more.

Approvals

Track the approval levels associated with the planning stage via workflow. Depending on your permissions, you can perform approval actions on the change.

In the Approvals sub-tab,

  • Click Add Approvals to configure additional approvals in the approval levels added from workflow.
  • Select approvals and click Send for Approval to trigger approval reminder to the approvers via email.
  • If you are an approver, you can take approval actions in the approval level table.
  • Hover over an approval and click Illustration 19: Plan Change to remove the approval.

 

Illustration 20: Plan Change

 

From the Level Actions drop-down, you can approve, reject, edit or delete approval levels based on your permissions.

 

Illustration 21: Plan Change

 

If no approval node is associated with planning stage via workflow, the Approvals sub-tab will not be displayed. 

Associations 

Associate problems or requests which caused the change. Requests created because of the change can also be associated.

In the Associations sub-tab,

  1. Click Associate under the relevant heading.
  2. In the slider window, select the problems or requests to associate with the change.
  3. Click Associate.

 

Illustration 22: Plan Change

 

You can also associate requests and problems to a change from the Actions menu.

 

Illustration 23: Plan Change

 

To remove any associated problem or requests, select them and click Dissociate.

 

Illustration 24: Plan Change

 

Status Comments

View the status transitions of the change in the planning stage, along with the comments added during transitions.

 

Illustration 25: Plan Change