What aspect of IT service management focuses on maintaining effective change processes?

The focus on maintaining effective change processes in IT service management is primarily found within Service Transition. This stage is critical because it encompasses the planning and management of service changes, ensuring that new or modified services are introduced into the live environment efficiently and with minimal disruption.

Service Transition involves a variety of processes designed to manage change effectively, such as Change Management, Release and Deployment Management, and Knowledge Management. The Change Management process, in particular, is geared toward controlling the lifecycle of all changes, helping to enable beneficial changes with minimal risk to IT services.

In contrast, Service Design mainly revolves around designing new services and changes to existing ones, including considerations of how they will function and the necessary documentation. Service Operation is focused on managing the day-to-day operations of IT services, ensuring that services are delivered as intended rather than managing their transitions. Continuous Service Improvement is concerned with enhancing service quality and processes over time, ensuring that IT services remain aligned with business needs.

Thus, Service Transition stands out as the core aspect that directly addresses the structure and processes necessary for effective change management within an IT service management framework.