Tips for Advancing Your ServiceNow SPM Skills

Whether you’re just getting started with Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM) in ServiceNow or looking to level up your expertise, this guide offers practical tips to help you grow. SPM is a powerful framework for aligning strategy with execution, and mastering it can significantly increase your value as a ServiceNow professional.

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Valuable Key Insights

1. Master the Core Modules First

Start by building strong proficiency in the foundational SPM modules:

Project Portfolio Management (PPM)
Application Portfolio Management (APM)
Demand Management

Understand how these modules interact with each other and how they integrate with the CMDB and CSDM (Common Service Data Model).

2. Get Hands-On with Realistic Scenarios

Use your ServiceNow Developer Instance to simulate:

A complete portfolio lifecycle
Demand intake and assessment
Resource planning and project execution
Application assessments and rationalization

Create dashboards using Performance Analytics to visualize demand throughput, project health, and alignment with strategic goals.

3. Deepen Your Knowledge of the CSDM

CSDM is the foundation for proper data alignment within ServiceNow. Learn to:

Map Business Capabilities, Applications, and Services
Align application data to support Application Portfolio Management
Use CSDM structures to support traceability in strategic planning

4. Use the SPM Success Playbook

ServiceNow provides a Success Playbook that helps guide organizations from basic project tracking to full strategic portfolio planning. Follow the playbook to:

Identify maturity levels
Align tools and processes
Build a roadmap for adoption

5. Explore Investment Funding and Scenario Planning

Learn how to:

Set up funding entities (e.g., Business Units, Products)
Allocate funds based on strategic value
Evaluate investment scenarios for funding decisions

Mastering this helps drive better executive-level conversations and decisions.

6. Leverage Flow Designer and Automation

Automate routine tasks across SPM:

Project and demand approvals
Notifications and escalations
Integration with Change, Incident, or other ITSM processes

7. Get Comfortable with Reporting & Visualizations

Use native tools like:

Performance Analytics
Roadmap Planning
Time Series Widgets

Build executive dashboards that show strategy-to-execution alignment, funding usage, and business outcomes.

8. Understand the Business Side

SPM isn’t just about tools. Learn how to:

Build business cases
Align projects to strategic goals
Communicate value to stakeholders

Understanding business priorities will help you position ServiceNow as a strategic enabler.

9. Earn ServiceNow Certifications

Demonstrate your expertise with these credentials:

SPM Implementation Specialist
PPM Micro-Certification
APM Micro-Certification

These certifications validate your skills and boost your credibility.

10. Engage with the ServiceNow Community

Stay up to date by:

Participating in forums and LinkedIn groups
Attending Knowledge conferences and SNUGs
Reading SPM blogs and following release notes

Networking with peers and thought leaders is invaluable for staying ahead.

Advancing your ServiceNow SPM skills is about more than mastering the platform—it’s about understanding how to apply it strategically to deliver business outcomes. These tips will help you grow both technically and professionally in the world of Strategic Portfolio Management.