How do we do automatic schedule conflict detection in Change Management?

Question

In modern ITSM practices when we are trying to automate as much as possible, we would like to automate our change schedule calendar (at least conflict handling) properly and smartly.

We have gone full Atlassian in implementing our ITSM suite (Jira, JSD, Confluence, Insight, etc) but I am unsure on how we can implement Calendar integration properly with our change management policies.

In our policy, we will have:

* Block-out dates where no change is allowed unless it's approved by upper management
* Changes on the same CI occurring at the same time (conflict resolution / acceptance) - prompt for reschedule or accept with comment 
* Changes on CI that are interrelated to each other occurring at the same time (conflict resolution/ acceptance).

Maybe automated conflict resolution is not feasible, and there needs some manual intervention (i.e. risk acceptance of conflict, manual rescheduling, etc) - but it would be good if we can somehow prompt this through a good workflow.

Currently all changes will go through a Change Management workflow according to ITIL change types via JSD (customer portal).

We will also have a weekly CAB meeting with the change calendar and change listing (potentially in Confluence - integrated with JSD).

I was wondering if anyone can suggest potential add-ons and/or change management change calendar implementation using Atlassian products that works well.

Thanks,

Andrew.

Alex David_epseu5 · Answer

Hey, updating this thread since people still land here with the same question. Where things stand today: JSM shows conflict warnings on changes, but only once a change reaches the planning stage, and the fuller change management features have moved to the Premium plan. There's still no native early conflict detection while you're scheduling, which is what most people in this thread were after.

Since Rodney asked about Marketplace apps: full disclosure, I work on Change Management Lite at ChefStackz. It does automatic conflict detection for overlapping changes on the calendar (flagged as you schedule, not just at planning stage), plus risk scoring and CAB approvals, and it doesn't need the Premium tier: https://marketplace.atlassian.com/apps/839946999/change-management-lite-for-jira-service-management

Hope that's useful to anyone finding this thread now.

Alex

Rodney Alfafara · Answer

We also need the ability to detect Change collisions. Since the Change Calendar only provides scheduled changes, does anyone perform automation or use Marketplace apps?

Nazir Kabani · Answer

This is not there? wow, it's basic requirement. We are implementing Jira ITSM and few weeks back i have started with service management and now planning to start change management from Friday, disappointed to see change conflict detention is not there.