Pasadena, Calif., October, 2007 – itSMF USA announces that the Manta Group has become a new Gold sponsor.

Manta Group approaches Service Management with a vision of aligning service management with business demands. They believe a service oriented organization requires business alignment in order to effectively define its priorities and requirements for investment in capabilities.

The Manta Group focuses on two key inputs to the Service Management process: business demands and enterprise risk. They develop business processes that allow organizations to measure the performance output of service organizations (internal and external), while enabling sound risk management capabilities to reduce harmful impacts of failed events ranging from change management issues to mismanagement of vendor relationships. The Manta Group takes the guidance from best practice frameworks such as the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) and Control Objectives for Information and related Technologies (CobiT), and creates a right-fit business process environment for IT based on business demands.

The IT Service Management Forum USA (itSMF USA) helps member organizations to achieve measurable operational excellence by introducing, developing and promoting IT Service Management Best Practices. In addition to practitioners, many leading IT vendors have joined the association as part of the global growth phenomenon in the area of IT Service Management and ITIL® acceptance. The itSMF USA supports over 40 local interest groups who meet to share information and learn about IT Service Management best practices including ITIL®.

About the itSMF USA
Founded in 1997, the Information Technology Service Management Forum USA (itSMF USA - www.itsmfusa.org) is a rapidly growing non-profit organization which promotes the use of industry best-practices and standards in the provision and management of IT Services. Current membership is nearing 8,000 individuals, with affiliated Local Interest Groups serving 40 cities and regions nationwide. The itSMF USA is affiliated with the itSMF International, which was formed in 1991.

About Manta Group Limited: http://www.mantagroup.com
The Manta Group is a management consulting firm focused on delivering Governance solutions encompassing Portfolio Management, Business Service Management, Risk and Compliance. The Manta Group helps customers transform their business to better align with corporate goals and objectives, while reducing the risk of investing in IT and enabling better management of the IT investment.

itSMF USA is a trademark of the Information Technology Service Management Forum USA. All other trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners.