ACM - The First Society in Computing
Special Interest Group on University and College Computing Services (SIGUCCS)
Computer Services Management Symposium
March 10, 11, and 12, 2002
Marriott Pavilion Hotel
St. Louis, Missouri
Changing Roles, Changing Rules

Session Description

Management Track, Session III
Session topic: Service Level Agreement: Articulating and Managing Expectations
Session presenter: Susan Strong, University of Wyoming
Format: Facilitated discussion
Description:
More and more institutions today are using Service Level Agreements (SLAs). Exactly what is a Service Level Agreement? How does having one help articulate expectations? Is there, or should there be, a relationship between the SLA and organizational goals and funding? Does having an SLA really help manage expectations? What is the best process for negotiating and developing SLA? How does one ensure the development of a realistic SLA? How might an SLA be used internally within an IT organization? What points belong in an SLA, and which do not? How does one actually make a SLA work--for the IT organization and for the unit being serviced?
Resources:
  1. Char Labounty
  2. Remedy Corporation - Service Level Agreement Development Workshop
  3. John W. Cocula - Managing Your Technology to Deliver on SLA's
  4. Todd W. Carter - A Beginner's Guide to SLA's
  5. Rothstein Associates Inc - various books
  6. Andrew Hiles - The Complete Guide to IT Service Level Agreements: Matching Service Quality to Business Needs
  7. Gilbert & Tobin - Negotiating an Effective Service Level Agreement
  8. Jamie Warter - Real-time SLA Monitoring Tools - Network World 1/5/01
  9. Mitch Betts - Making the SLA Work for You - Computer World 8/20/01
  10. Max Schroeder - An SLA Primer - Call Center Magazine 3/5/01
  11. Tom Mangan - SLA Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them - Information Week 11/9/01