Quick Answer
The correct choice is to remove steps that do not add value. This directly applies the ITIL guiding principle "keep it simple and practical," which urges practitioners to eliminate unnecessary complexity and focus on outcomes. In a change management process, redundant approval steps for low-risk changes create delays without improving quality or control, so stripping them out streamlines the workflow while preserving essential safeguards. On the ITIL 4 Foundation exam, this principle tests your ability to identify waste in service value chain activities; a common trap is assuming all approvals are mandatory, when the principle actually demands questioning every step’s contribution to value. To remember it, think of the mnemonic "RAD" — Remove Approvals that Don’t add value — and keep your change management practical by asking "Does this step directly improve the change outcome or mitigate a real risk?"
This ITIL4F practice question tests your understanding of itil guiding principles. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
An IT department is redesigning its change management process. The current process has many approval steps causing delays. According to the guiding principle 'Keep it simple and practical', what should they do?
Outsource the process to a vendor
Why wrong: Outsourcing may add complexity and is not a simplification.
Add more approval steps to ensure quality
Why wrong: Adding steps increases complexity, contradicting the principle.
Remove steps that do not add value
Simplify by eliminating non-value-adding steps.
Automate all approvals regardless of value
Why wrong: Automation without simplification may still be complex.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Remove steps that do not add value
Option C is correct because the guiding principle 'Keep it simple and practical' emphasizes eliminating unnecessary complexity. In change management, approval steps that do not add value (e.g., redundant sign-offs for low-risk changes) cause delays without improving quality. By removing such steps, the process becomes more efficient while still maintaining appropriate controls.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Outsource the process to a vendor
Why it's wrong here
Outsourcing may add complexity and is not a simplification.
Add more approval steps to ensure quality
Why it's wrong here
Adding steps increases complexity, contradicting the principle.
Remove steps that do not add value
Why this is correct
Simplify by eliminating non-value-adding steps.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Automate all approvals regardless of value
Why it's wrong here
Automation without simplification may still be complex.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates may confuse 'automation' with 'simplification,' assuming that automating all approvals (Option D) is inherently good, but ITIL4F stresses that automation should only be applied to value-adding steps, not to all steps indiscriminately.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the ITIL 4 guiding principles, 'Keep it simple and practical' aligns with the concept of 'value' in service management—every activity should contribute to value creation or risk reduction. In change management, this means applying a risk-based approach: low-risk standard changes may use pre-approved models with minimal steps, while high-risk normal changes require appropriate review. Real-world implementations often use a change advisory board (CAB) only for significant changes, avoiding unnecessary bureaucracy for routine updates.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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What to study next
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FAQ
ITIL Guiding Principles — This question tests ITIL Guiding Principles — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Remove steps that do not add value — Option C is correct because the guiding principle 'Keep it simple and practical' emphasizes eliminating unnecessary complexity. In change management, approval steps that do not add value (e.g., redundant sign-offs for low-risk changes) cause delays without improving quality. By removing such steps, the process becomes more efficient while still maintaining appropriate controls.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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