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Problem Management Process


Problem Management is the process responsible for managing the lifecycle of all problems. The general purpose is to prevent incidents and to minimize the influence of those that you cannot prevent by identifying the unknown root cause of incidents as Known Errors

Within SimpleOne, the Problem Management solution allows users to perform the following types of process activities:

  • Identify and log problems.
  • Prioritize and categorize them by impact and urgency, CIs and services.
  • Assign problems to appropriate persons and groups.
  • Investigate and perform functional or hierarchical escalation if necessary.
  • Produce workarounds to reduce problem affection and to keep system functionality running while searching for a resolution.
  • Resolve and Close problems with the objects related to them.

Problem Identification and Categorization

When detecting an issue, it is necessary to log and describe all the aspects of a problem. Create a Problem record for proper issue identification, and to log all activities and works on a problem.

Categorize and prioritize a problem for a proper assessment of the impact on your system. These activities help to produce a sufficient resolution.

Problem Investigation

Use the Problem Management features to Investigate problems and objects related to them. Establish hierarchical and functional relationships with Incidents and Change Requests to identify the issue cause.

Produce a workaround

You can reduce or eliminate the impact of a problem that is impossible to resolve for any reason. Create a Known Error record to produce a workaround useful for the relevant problems and issues.

Problem Resolution

Initiate and produce the most appropriate Problem solution by the SimpleOne features. Create Change Requests and Problem Tasks that are necessary for problem resolution. 

Problem Closure

Verify completed problems to make sure that the issue has been eliminated and to Close the problems.

Problem Management States


Problem Management states allow users to monitor the problem processes, as well as control their investigation and resolution. Unlike Incidents, state values are available for every problem except the problems with the Closed state (it is impossible to reopen the closed problems). In other words, the Problem Management processes can be non-linear and require the ability to accept changes.

State

Description

Available Transitions
RegisteredThe problem is detected and recorded but not yet categorized.
  • Assigned
  • In Progress
AssignedThe problem is categorized and assigned to a relevant person or group.
  • Registered
  • In Progress
  • Postponed
  • Completed




In Progress

The person started working on the issue.

  • Registered
  • Assigned
  • Postponed
  • Completed
Postponed

The problem can be marked Postponed if the problem resolving should be postponed for a known period. If the problem affects business functions, then it must have at least a temporary workaround.

  • Registered
  • Assigned
  • In Progress
  • Completed
Known Error

An identified root cause of problems that have been analyzed but have not been resolved. An agent has come up with a temporary workaround of this cause as Known Error.

Keep produced workarounds in the Known Error Database (Knowledge Base → KEDB) and apply them when related incidents occur.

  • Registered
  • Assigned
  • In Progress
  • Postponed
  • Completed
CompletedA problem is considered resolved when an agent has come up with a permanent solution for this issue. In this case, he/she must change the state to Completed so that the caller could perform the tests. If the tests are successful, then the problem should be marked as Closed
  • Registered
  • Assigned
  • In Progress
  • Postponed
  • Closed
Closed

After completing a problem and verifying the issue elimination, an agent could close the problem (mark it as Closed). In case the agent hasn't closed the problem with the Completed mark, the system can close the problem automatically over an adjustable timeframe.

Info

The Closed value is only available for selection in Problem records with the Completed state.




Table of Contents
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Identificate a problem

detect and record a problem:

  • as a cause of an incident or a few incidents;
  • form other sources manually.

Create a Problem

categorize a problem and define its priority and specify all the related information and records

Copy CIs to Originators

Problem Controlling

investigation and analysis of a problem

Create Known Error

In case you cannot resolve a problem, create a Known Error record in the KEDB (Known Error Database) and define with it a workaround suited for problem .

Push the Create Known Error button on the problem form, and follow the steps below:

Fill in the record form:

FieldDescriptionNumberAutomatically filled with the unique identificator of ther KEXXXXXXX format.NameEnter the Known Error name.Service

Select a Service from the list.

Automatically filled when creating a KE from the particular problem.

Content DBKEDBContent CategoryAutomatically filled with the Known Error value.Content Item ClassAutomatically filled with the Known Error value.WorkaroundDescribe a workaround to the existing and impossible to resolving problem.State

Select one of the possible values:

  • Actual;
  • Fixed.
ProblemAutomatically filled with the problem number and subject when creating a KE from the particular Problem.Incidents

Assign related Incidents to a new Known Error.

Automatically filled wih the Incident records when creating a KE from the particular Problem.

Created byAutomatically filled with the User who has created this Known Error record.Updated byAutomatically filled with the User who has updated this Known Error record.DescriptionMetainfoType here an additional information 
  • Push the Save or Save and Exit button.
  • Resolve a problem

    Create a Change Request     

    If resolving a problem requires to make a change in your system, create a Change Request managed with the the Change Control Practice.

    Enter the Problem hamburger menu → Create Change and select one of the following options:

    • Standart change - ;
    • Normal change;
    • Emergency change.

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