ServiceNow's conflict detection mechanism identifies potential scheduling issues by checking for other changes or maintenance windows affecting the same Configuration Item (CI) during the same time frame. The system specifically evaluates three key fields on the Change Request form to determine a conflict: the 'Configuration item' to identify the asset being changed, and the 'Planned start date' and 'Planned end date' to define the change window. A conflict is flagged if another change is scheduled for the same CI within an overlapping time period.

C. CI Business criticality: This field indicates the importance of the CI to the business but is not a direct input for the scheduling conflict detection logic.

E. Risk: The Risk field is an output of a risk assessment or a manually set value; it does not serve as an input for identifying scheduling conflicts with other changes.

1. ServiceNow Product Documentation - Change conflict detection: "The conflict check is based on the Configuration item

Planned start date

and Planned end date fields on the Change Request form. A conflict exists if the change request configuration item is included in another change request in the same time period." (ServiceNow. (2024). Change conflict detection. Product documentation. Washington DC release.)

2. ServiceNow Product Documentation - Detect change conflicts: "Conflict detection looks for conflicts with other change requests or with blackout or maintenance windows. A conflict is detected if the current change is scheduled for the same configuration item during the same time as another change." (ServiceNow. (2024). Detect change conflicts. Product documentation. Washington DC release.)