analyst cmdb consultant interview questions

What are sample interview questions for a Configuration Management or CMDB consultant

By ITIL® from Experience©

These sample interview questions are to help interviewers to select a Configuration Management Database (CMDB) consultant or CMDB business analyst involved in the implementation project. A different set of interview questions should be used for a Configuration Librarian or a Configuration Manager responsible to manage the process’ operation.

Even though their work may be focused on the Configuration Management business process and/or the definition of Configuration Items (CI) and their attributes, it is advisable to ask some questions about the ITSM tool used for the CMDB. It is our experience that the candidate must know some of the tool’s terminology and have an overall understanding of the tool's fundamental paradigms and operation to understand constraints to their work. An absence of an introductory or user level understanding of the tool usually leads to unnecessary design, configuration and tool customization. These sample interview questions assumes that a tool has been chosen.

Each question below is meant to gauge a candidate's depth of knowledge and understanding. They are also designed to draw out their views on key topics related to ITIL® Configuration Management and their preferred implementation approach. Tips are also provided to help the interviewer assess a candidate’s answers. It is recognized that many staff selection methods exist and that they vary from one culture, country or industry to another. Thus, these sample interview questions should be modified according to the context and the work to accomplish. We also take the opportunity to remind our readers of the Disclaimer.

Of course these questions are only one dimension interviewers should use to assess a candidate's fit with their team and project stakeholders to ensure that their approach and style align to the organization's direction and culture.
Like the project management saying goes, “80 % of a project should be spent on the planning up front.” The same applies to select a candidate. A rigorous interview and selection process help to avoid frustration and failed starts.

Free download of sample interview questions in a printable format (PDF 533 KB)

1. What kind of assets should we have in our CMDB?

Tips:

Often the answer contains: "it depends", "anything you care to manage" and, "for reporting."
The content of the Configuration Management Database should enable impact analysis and track service management records (e.g. incidents, service requests, problems and changes.
A distinction should be made between an asset and a Configuration Item (I.e. IT Asset Management (ITAM) vs Configuration Management).
Did the candidate seek clarification about the organization's context, business needs and drivers under which it is undertaking to implement a CMDB?

Optional follow up question:
1.a. What is the difference between an asset and a CI?

Tips:

An asset and a Configuration Item is not the same thing. While a CI is an asset, an asset is not necessarily a CI.
An asset is a record for accounting. A CI is an asset in context.
Did the candidate to provide a concise answer?

Optional follow up question:
1.b. What happens if we care about everything?

Tips:

An approach to define business priorities and to progressively populate CIs and related data management processes should be mentioned (See Which CIs to load first in the CMDB).

2. This question is a follow up to: "What kind of assets should we have in our CMDB?" The question is: Would your answer be different if it was based on ITIL® v2 or ITIL® v3 (2007 or 2011 Editions)?

Tips:

In ITIL® v2 the focus of the CMDB and Configuration Management was on providing “ a logical model of the infrastructure or a service by identifying, controlling, maintaining and verifying the versions of Configuration Items (CIs) in existence.” (ITIL® Service Support, 2001 p.121)
ITIL® v3 expanded the scope of Configuration Management to “Service Assets and Configuration Management”
How did the candidate handle the situation when they do not know the answer?

3. We use, or plan to use, this ITSM Tool. What is the role of the CMDB in this tool?

Tips:

Typically the CMDB is used for impact analysis (e.g. Incident Management, Problem Management, Change Management, or any other ITIL® process and for reporting.
Some ITSM tools cannot operate without some form of a CMDB since every service record must have a CI. The CMDB may also be a core element of the tool's administration (e.g. to apply access rights and permissions, SLA's. determine event assignment). Thus, the candidate should generally understand the tool's dependencies on the CMDB.
If an opinion was voiced about this tool, was it done in an appropriate business and professional manner?

Optional follow up question:
3.a. What has been your experience with this tool and what would you say are the 3 things we should be careful about?

Tips:

Ideally, the 3 things are related to the topic of the interview (e.g. CMDB and Configuration Management).
If an opinion was voiced about this tool, was it done in an appropriate business and professional manner?

Optional follow up question:
3.b. What did you personally do to address these 3 things?

Tips:

The answer must be related to those 3 points.
Did the candidate mention team work?
Would their choice of escalation/communication methods and approach be appropriate in your organization?
Would their leadership and style of interpersonal interaction (e.g. collaborative vs. confrontational, autocratic) fit with your organization’s culture?

4. How many levels can we have in our CMDB and what are they called?

Tips:

Was the candidate able to:
Give an accurate answer?
Provide a concise answer to a close ended question (i.e. they either know it or not).
Able to admit that they did not know.
Answer both parts of the question.

5. Is it important for us to have a naming convention for our CMDB?

Tips:

Typically a naming convention is advisable.
In some ITSM tools the CI naming convention can make it easier or more difficult to use (e.g. labels are limited to 15 characters, listed alphabetically in drop downs).
A consistent CI name can make it easy for IT technicians to identify what it is, its location or its function.
The need for the naming convention should be related to a business or user benefit, not simply because it is a good thing to do.

Optional follow up question:
5.a. Have you developed and implemented a CI naming convention in the past and how did you do it?

Tips:

Were stakeholder and CI owners engaged or was it imposed?
Many groups has some naming method thus, it should be leverage to avoid re-inventing the wheel and to ease potential resistance.
Processes, controls, owner of the naming convention are required to maintain this CI naming convention.
Were the two parts of the question answered: 1. development and 2. Implementation.
Did the candidate mention how they transitioned from the existing method to the new format?

6. Who should update the CMDB?

Tips:

There are a multitude of answers like, the Configuration Librarian, the Configuration Manager, or even everyone (e.g. centralized or distributed), automation.
An organized and controlled approach is required to avoid a free-for-all leading to data accuracy issues.
See Should everyone be allowed to create CIs

7. It is typical for an organization to have multiple sources of CI data. If we approach the owners of one of these data source to replace their tool, one-third typically would welcome you since they hate their current tool. Another third would cautiously accept as long as specific conditions are met. The last group would flatly refuse since it is their data.
Can you talk to us about an experience where you had to deal with these types of individuals and what you did?

Tips:

If the candidate has no experience, ask how they would handle such a situation.
A different approach should be used for each group.
Was the candidate able to absorb complex information from this lengthy question?
Did the candidate mention the methods used to address each group`s needs and concerns?
Does the candidate's approach matches your organization’s culture and would be effective with your stakeholders?

8. How will you ensure that people actually update the CMDB and follow the process?

Tips:

Was any of the following mentioned?
Clear roles and responsibilities are communicated to all involved (see When to use a RACI Matrix).
Training/Coaching (see Do people need training if the ITSM tool is easy to learn ).
Documentation (e.g. User Guide, FAQ, Quick Reference Card).
Inform users how-to get help.
Mechanisms, controls, audits, processes to monitor and address data accuracy issues.

9. Should every organization use auto-discovery to populate their CMDB? Why or Why Not?

Tips:

One size does not fit all as it depends on the goal and approach.
See Should we automatically import auto-discovered CIs in the CMDB.
Did the candidate take a position?

10. What needs to be in place before we import auto-discovered CIs in our CMDB?

Tips:

Process, procedures and business rules must be determined and documented. Specifically: who, what when and how CIs are created. It is also critical to have a process in place to address discrepancies between the CMDB and what was found in the live environment.
The answer must not strictly be technology focused. It should also include the people’s readiness and process elements.

11. Here is a scenario. You are working with an organization that creates CIs in the ITSM tool outside of the Change Management process. My question is: Do you consider this organization compliant to the ITIL® standard?

Tips:

ITIL® is a framework, not a standard. Therefore, the concept of compliance does not apply.
There is no right or wrong answer to this questions since ITIL® is a book of practices to be adapted.
Was the candidate able to provide an opinion?
Did the candidate take a dogmatic position using ITIL®? (e.g. “ITIL® says…”)

12. Do you have references of previous work you have done with this ITSM tool or CMDB?

Last updated on: 2016-05-19

"CMDB across the nation...you are littered with CIs that were loaded without a process to maintain or retire them."

More Quotes

Related:

Page actions

What are sample interview questions for a Configuration Management or CMDB consultant

Page actions