ITIL 4 CDS study plan
ITIL 4 CDS · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Understand how to plan and manage the flow of work and value
Map a real or realistic service end-to-end as a value stream, labelling each step's inputs, outputs, and handoffs
Build a Kanban-style board for that value stream and set explicit WIP limits for at least three stages
Identify the three largest constraints or bottlenecks in the flow and propose a change to queue size, batch size, or sequencing for each
Compare three prioritisation approaches and justify which fits a mixed-priority support and delivery environment
Explain how visibility of work, limiting WIP, and managing dependencies reduce lead time
Your checkpoint
A one-page value stream map plus Kanban board sketch with WIP limits, three named constraints, and a written justification of the chosen prioritisation approach (500 words max).
Understand how to use ITIL practices to create, deliver and support services
Summarise the purpose and key activities of at least eight core practices used to create, deliver, and support services
Map each of those practices to the service value chain activities it mainly supports
Distinguish incident, problem, and service request handling by classifying 15 self-written realistic scenarios
Explain how change enablement models and change-authorisation levels are selected based on risk and impact
Describe how knowledge management and service desk practices interact to reduce repeat contacts
Your checkpoint
A practice-to-value-chain mapping table covering eight practices, plus 15 scenario classifications with a one-line justification for each.
Understand the concepts and challenges of creating, delivering and supporting services
Describe how the components of the service value system interrelate and how guiding principles shape decisions
Compare centralised, decentralised, and hybrid organisational structures and state the trade-offs of each for service delivery
Identify the main challenges of creating, delivering, and supporting services, including silos, legacy constraints, shadow demand, and capacity pressure
Explain shift-left and describe its benefits and risks for a support organisation
Explain how service culture and customer orientation affect the way services are created and supported
Your checkpoint
A written brief of 500-600 words answering an exam-style question on the challenges of creating, delivering, and supporting services, with at least four challenges and a mitigation for each.
Understand how to develop and manage capabilities and value streams
Construct a step-by-step value stream model for a brand-new service from demand to value realisation
Model an existing service's value stream and mark steps that add little or no value
Identify the capabilities, roles, and practices required to operate each modelled value stream
Explain the relationship between value streams, practices, and the service value chain
Explain how value stream design choices affect flow, cost, and quality
Your checkpoint
Two complete value stream models (one existing, one new service) with numbered steps, inputs, outputs, dependencies, and a list of required capabilities; scored against a 20-question self-test on domains 3, 2, and 1 with a pass mark of 70%.
Understand how to build effective teams and organisational culture
Describe common team structures and interaction models and state when each is appropriate
Explain how to build and sustain a culture of collaboration, trust, and continual improvement
Identify the competencies and skill profiles needed across development, operations, and support roles
Explain how feedback, metrics, and retrospectives are used to improve team performance and employee satisfaction
Describe how to structure communication and knowledge sharing between teams that share a value stream
Your checkpoint
A 400-500 word recommendation of a team structure and culture-building actions for a given scenario, with justification tied to at least four named concepts.
Understand how to use ITIL practices to create, deliver and support services & Understand how to plan and manage the flow of work and value
Solve 40 timed practice questions covering practices, flow, and prioritisation
Categorise every wrong answer by domain and by root cause (knowledge gap, misread, or reasoning error)
Re-teach the three weakest concepts from memory without notes, then verify against source material
Explain how deployment, release, and change enablement practices interact to protect live services while enabling flow
Your checkpoint
An error-analysis log for 40 practice questions showing question number, domain, root cause, and the corrected fact for each miss.
Understand the concepts and challenges of creating, delivering and supporting services & Understand how to build effective teams and organisational culture & Understand how to develop and manage capabilities and value streams & Understand how to use ITIL practices to create, deliver and support services & Understand how to plan and manage the flow of work and value
Audit all five domains against the syllabus and rate confidence per sub-topic
Close the three lowest-confidence sub-topics with targeted reading and note-making
Convert every recorded error from weeks 4 and 6 into a flashcard or one-line rule
Explain in your own words how value streams, teams, and practices combine to create, deliver, and support services
Your checkpoint
A personal gap report rating every sub-topic on a 1-5 confidence scale, plus a set of at least 25 flashcards covering every recorded error.
Understand the concepts and challenges of creating, delivering and supporting services & Understand how to use ITIL practices to create, deliver and support services & Understand how to plan and manage the flow of work and value & Understand how to build effective teams and organisational culture & Understand how to develop and manage capabilities and value streams
Complete two full-length timed mock exams under exam conditions
Review every incorrect and guessed answer and restate the correct reasoning
Re-drill the 20 flashcards and rules that still cause hesitation
Confirm readiness by scoring at or above the target threshold on the second mock
Your checkpoint
Two completed mock exams with score reports and a final one-page revision sheet of the 20 highest-risk facts.
Milestones
Week 2: Explain, without notes, the purpose and main activities of eight practices and map each to a service value chain activity in under 15 minutes.
Week 4: Score at least 70% on a 20-question self-test spanning domains 3, 2, and 1, and produce both value stream models unaided.
Week 6: Score at least 75% on a 40-question mixed practice set on domains 2 and 3, with every miss logged and categorised.
Week 8: Score at least 80% on the final full-length mock exam, with no domain below 65%.