COBIT and ITIL,  Differences and connections

 ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) 

ITIL could be seen as the way to manage the IT services across their lifecycle, ITIL describes in more detail the parts of enterprise IT that are the service management enablers (process activities, organizational structures, etc.).

COBIT (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology) 

COBIT is about how to Govern the Enterpise IT in order to generate the maximum creation of value by the business, enabled by IT investments, while optimizing the risks and the resources.

The distinction between the two is sometimes described as “COBIT provides the ‘why’; ITIL provides the ‘how.’” While catchy, that view is simplistic and seems to force a false “one or the other” choice.

COBIT is based on five principles:

1. Meeting Stakeholder Needs
2. Covering the Enterprise End-to-End
3. Applying a Single, Integrated Framework
4. Enabling a Holistic Approach
5. Separating Governance from Management

And seven enablers:

1. Principles, Policies and Frameworks
2. Processes
3. Organizational Structures
4. Culture, Ethics and Behavior
5. Information
6. Services, Infrastructure and Applications
7. People, Skills and Competencies

ITIL focuses on ITSM and provides much more in-depth guidance in this area. 

There are five stages in the ITIL Service Lifecycle:

1. Service Strategy
2. Service Design
3. Service Transition
4. Service Operation
5. Continual Service Improvement