ITIL 4 Foundation Practice Exam

Who is responsible for authorizing a change?

1. The service desk team

2. The change authority

3. The IT steering committee

4. The project manager

The correct answer is: The change authority

The responsibility of authorizing a change lies with the change authority, which is typically allocated within the change management process. The change authority can vary depending on the nature and impact of the change, but it is usually a person or a group that has been designated to assess and approve changes. This role ensures that changes are made in a controlled and considered manner, balancing risk against the benefits and ensuring alignment with organizational goals. The change authority is vital for making informed decisions about changes to services or infrastructure. They consider various factors, such as the urgency, importance, resource availability, and potential impact of the change. By having a designated authority, organizations can streamline the change process and maintain the integrity and stability of their IT services. While the service desk team plays a crucial role in receiving and logging change requests, they do not have the authority to authorize changes. The IT steering committee may oversee broader IT strategies and initiatives but is not directly responsible for the day-to-day approvals of individual changes. Similarly, the project manager may influence change decisions within the scope of a project but does not have the overall authority for authorizing changes outside their specific projects.