Neglecting a dimension is the usual failure
ITIL states that failing to address all four dimensions adequately risks services becoming undeliverable or not meeting expectations. Most post-mortems that conclude "it was a people problem" are really a dimension that was never resourced.
Why it is like this
The dimensions exist to make an omission visible before launch. The framework is blunt that they are not optional emphases.
Not to be confused with
A reason to spread effort evenly. The dimensions are weighted by the service, not equally — the requirement is that none is left unexamined.
In practice
A cloud migration with a flawless architecture, no supplier exit plan and no retrained operations team has addressed one dimension out of four.
Source: ITIL 4 Foundation (AXELOS / PeopleCert), 2019 edition — §3 — introduction. Read on .
ITIL® is a registered trade mark of the PeopleCert group. ytyk.org is not affiliated with, endorsed by or licensed by PeopleCert. These cards are independent commentary written in our own words; no part of the ITIL publications, and no ITIL diagram, is reproduced here.
Predict Check yourself
A migration is technically sound but has no supplier exit plan and no retrained operations staff. Which dimensions were neglected?
Show the answer
Partners and suppliers, and organisations and people.
Exit planning is squarely partners and suppliers; training is organisations and people. Both are the dimensions projects defund first.