What is the Service Catalog used for in IT service management?

The Service Catalog is a comprehensive repository that provides an organized overview of all operational services offered to users within the IT service management framework. Its primary purpose is to give stakeholders clear visibility into what services are available, including details such as service descriptions, pricing, service level agreements (SLAs), and any dependencies or prerequisites. By outlining the services provided, the Service Catalog becomes a key tool for service consumption, allowing users to understand and request services efficiently.

A Service Catalog not only aids in streamlining service delivery but also supports informed decision-making for both service providers and consumers by clearly defining available offerings. This means that while monitoring service performance, tracking incidents, and managing service requests are important aspects of ITSM, they do not encapsulate the core function of the Service Catalog as effectively as providing an overview of operational services does.