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A Guide to Service Desk Concepts, 4th Edition

Donna Knapp

  • Copyright 2014
  • {{checkPublicationMessage('Published', '2013-02-14T00:00:00+0000')}}
Starting At $67.95 See pricing and ISBN options
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A Guide to Service Desk Concepts 4th Edition by Donna Knapp
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Overview

Help future and current professionals translate technical expertise into effective careers in computer user support with the help of A GUIDE TO SERVICE DESK CONCEPTS, 4E by IT expert Donna Knapp. This trusted, contemporary guide introduces the latest developments, research, resources and trends as they happen in computer user support. Readers explore the various types of service desks and gain a solid understanding of the diverse roles and skills required. They also review the processes and technologies that ensure a service desk is operating efficiently and effectively and see how today's leading organizations measure service desk success.

This edition references the very latest ITIL® 2011 best practices, leading quality and IT service management frameworks and standards to ensure readers have the most recent information regarding the role of outsourcing and certification in the service desk. New case studies and case projects provide on-the-job practice, while updated chapters highlight the evolving role of the service desk and how technology trends, such as cloud computing, virtualization, mobile technology and consumerization, are impacting computer user support. New material also examines the contemporary emphasis on self-help and effects of self-healing capabilities within newer generation technologies. Rely on A GUIDE TO SERVICE DESK CONCEPTS, 4E to give readers needed insights into the world of computer user support today.

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Meet the Authors

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Donna Knapp

An experienced IT professional with more than 30 years in the industry as a practitioner, consultant, and trainer, Donna Knapp currently works as Curriculum Development Manager for ITSM Academy, a full-service provider of IT Service Management education. Ms. Knapp is an ITIL Expert, a Certified Process Design Engineer, a Certified ISO/IEC 2000 Consultant/Manager, a Certified Scrum Master, and she is certified in Knowledge-Centered Support (KCS) Principles. The author of several books on the service desk industry, she has also developed several highly successful seminars, including “Achieving Customer Service Excellence for Service Desk Professionals” and “ITIL at the Service Desk.”

What's New

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  • THE LATEST CONCEPTS KEEP READERS ON THE FOREFRONT OF PROGRESS. This edition introduces today's computer user support with the most up-to-date concepts, the latest advancements in research, and emerging professional trends. The author provides contemporary Case Studies and references helpful Web sites and other resources throughout the text to keep learning current.
  • NEW "TECHNOLOGY TRENDS" DEMONSTRATE HOW ADVANCEMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY IMPACT USER SUPPORT. This edition closely examines the latest technology developments and the impact of these technology trends on the service desk. The author discusses the influence of virtualization, cloud computing, and consumerization (bring your own device) on the service desk, as well as mobile, social, and multi-generational support.
  • UPDATED ITIL® 2011 BEST PRACTICES KEEP READERS CURRENT WITH THE WORLD'S LEADING APPROACH TO IT SERVICE MANAGEMENT. All references to ITIL best practices now reflect ITIL 2011 standards. Author Donna Knapp uses her professional affiliation and expertise with ITIL to ensure readers understand how these best practices combine the latest thinking and expert advice with sound business principles.
  • UPDATED CASE PROJECTS SUPPORT BLENDED LEARNING. Service Desk University Case Projects throughout this edition now reflect the latest technology developments and current trends. Revised Case Projects better support a blended learning strategy for all learning styles.
  • UPDATED CHAPTER 2 INCLUDES A TIMELY DISCUSSION OF "BRING YOUR OWN DEVICE," ADDRESSING EMERGING CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES. Updates throughout the section on Service Level Agreements examine the growing "Bring Your Own Device" trend and review specific employee responsibilities within organizations when employees use their personal technology devices at work to access corporate data.
  • UPDATED CHAPTER 5 HIGHLIGHTS INCREASED EMPHASIS ON SELF-HELP AND SELF-HEALING CAPABILITIES. Updates throughout Chapter 5 clearly describe the benefits of Software as a Service (SaaS) in today's service desk setting. This chapter also describes contemporary corporate advancements to enable greater levels of self-help and take advantage of the self-healing capabilities of newer generation technologies.
  • UPDATED CHAPTER 8 INTRODUCES SERVICE DESK INDUSTRY TRENDS AND THE SHIFTING DIRECTION OF TODAY'S SERVICE DESK. This thoroughly revised chapter now describes the evolving role of today's service desk to relationship managers who enable social support channels and facilitate support communities.

Features

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  • HELPFUL NOTES BUILD UPON KEY INFORMATION IN EACH CHAPTER. Notes within each chapter offer additional information on specific terms and topics, enabling the reader to explore concepts of interest in more depth.
  • USEFUL FIGURES AND SCREEN SHOTS CLARIFY HOW CONCEPTS APPLY IN TODAY'S BUSINESS WORLD. Invaluable figures and screen captures throughout this edition illustrate meaningful, real examples of key service desk concepts in action.
  • INTERVIEWS WITH SERVICE DESK PROFESSIONALS PROVIDE UNMATCHED INSIGHTS. Intriguing interviews with leading professionals working in various capacities within today's service desk industry give readers a first-hand, behind-the-scenes look at the realities of computer user support.
  • INTERACTIVE REVIEW AND PROJECTS REINFORCE UNDERSTANDING AS READERS PROGRESS. User-tested, valuable Review Questions ensure comprehension and reader retention, while Hands-On Projects and Case Projects reinforce what readers have learned and offer opportunities to apply concepts to real support situations.

Table of Contents

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1. Introduction to Help Desk Concepts.
2. Service Desk Operations.
3. The People Component: Service Desk Roles and Responsibilities.
4. The Process Component: Service Desk Processes and Procedures.
5. The Technology Component: Service Desk Tools and Technologies.
6. The Information Component: Service Desk Performance Measures.
7. The Service Desk Setting.
8. Customer Support as a Profession.
Appendix A: Job Descriptions for the Service Desk.
Appendix B: Service Desk Resources.

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Traditional eBook and Print Options

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  • ISBN-10: 1285680855
  • ISBN-13: 9781285680859
  • RETAIL $67.95

  • ISBN-10: 1285063457
  • ISBN-13: 9781285063454
  • RETAIL $169.95

  • ISBN-10: 1285063589
  • ISBN-13: 9781285063584
  • RETAIL $204.95
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Supplements

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Cengage provides a range of supplements that are updated in coordination with the main title selection. For more information about these supplements, contact your Learning Consultant.

FOR STUDENTS

A Guide to Customer Service Skills for the Service Desk Professional

ISBN: 9781285063584
A GUIDE TO CUSTOMER SERVICE SKILLS FOR THE SERVICE DESK PROFESSIONAL, the definitive service desk text now available in a fully revised fourth edition, teaches technical professionals the skills and work habits needed to successfully interact with customers and achieve job satisfaction. Each chapter describes a specific business skill, soft skill, or self-management skill required to deliver effective technical customer support while providing proven, how-to techniques for mastering that skill. Research and references have been updated in each chapter, and the latest ITIL® vocabulary and concepts are reflected throughout the text. The Fourth Edition of A GUIDE TO CUSTOMER SERVICE SKILLS FOR THE SERVICE DESK PROFESSIONAL thoroughly examines the changing role of the service desk professional. An experienced IT professional with a unique industry perspective, author Donna Knapp describes the business and technology trends that are shaping the direction of the service desk industry and the opportunities available to those pursuing a service desk career. New case studies and case projects provide on-the-job practice, while updated chapters highlight the key transition from reactive to a more strategic, proactive service desk. The text explores how technology trends like cloud computing, virtualization, mobile technology, and bring-your-own-device are impacting the service desk, and new material examines the use of social media and collaboration technologies in a service desk setting.