---
sourceDocument: Australia IT Service Management
sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/it-service-management

 Release :

    - australia

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Australia IT Service Management

ft:clusterId :

    - itsm

bundleId :

    - itsm

workflow :

    - Technology


---

# View and update incident information on the Overview tab

# View and update incident information on the Overview tab {#ariaid-title1}

Release version: Australia  
Updated January 30, 2025  
![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 7 minutes to read  
View and update the incident information, such as summary, impact, cause, and resolution, from the Overview tab. This incident information helps you analyze the issue and resolve the incident
quickly.

## Before you begin

An incident must be created. For more information, see [Create an incident in Service Operations Workspace](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/DX7Hz9WAFvHCv6apiiNpGg "Track the investigation, possible solutions, and resolution of a problem for a customer.").

Role required: itil

## About this task

Review the incident information on the Overview tab. If necessary, you can edit or add information.

## Procedure

1. On an incident record, select the Overview tab.
2. In the AI summary and suggestions card, select Generate and review the incident summary and resolution plan.  
   The card displays a summary of the incident and a suggested resolution plan, helping you investigate and resolve incidents faster.  
   Note:  
   If the Overview tab is hidden for L1 service desk agents, the card appears on the Details tab.
3. On the Summary section, add or edit the information as needed.
   1. Select the Edit summary (![Edit summary icon]()) icon to edit the fields.
   2. On the form, fill in the details.  
      {#view-update-inc-overview-tab__table_q2v_phj_1bc__entry__2}

      | Field | Description |
      |-|-|
      | Short description | Brief description of the incident. |
      | Description | Detailed explanation on the incident. |
      | Number | The unique system-generated incident number. This is a read-only field. |
      | Priority | How quickly the service desk should address the task. The Priority field is calculated based on the Impact and Urgency fields. |
      | Opened | The date and time when the incident was created. This is a read-only field. |
      | Impact | Level of impact that the incident has on the business. Possible values: * 1-High * 2-Medium * 3-Low {#view-update-inc-overview-tab__ul_yhw_n3j_1bc} Note: When you modify the value in the Impact and Urgency fields and save the record, a Record update pop-up window is displayed where you must enter the Work notes information to proceed further. |
      | Urgency | Level of urgency the incident requires to be resolved. Possible values: * 1-High * 2-Medium * 3-Low {#view-update-inc-overview-tab__ul_i1k_m3j_1bc} Note: When you modify the value in the Impact and Urgency fields and save the record, a Record update pop-up window is displayed where you must enter the Work notes information to proceed further. |
      | State | Different states through which the incident proceeds during its life cycle. Possible values: * New * In progress * On Hold * Resolved * Canceled {#view-update-inc-overview-tab__ul_z5m_g3j_1bc} Note: * When you select the On Hold state and save the record, a Record update pop-up window appears where you must select the On hold reason field and enter the Additional comments. * When you select the Resolved state and save the record, a Record update pop-up window appears where you must select the Resolution code field and enter the Resolution notes to proceed further. {#view-update-inc-overview-tab__ul_sjd_3xm_cbc} |
      | Major Incident state | State of the Major incident. Note: This field is available only if the Major Incident Management for Service Operations Workspace (sn_sow_mim) plugin is installed and active. For more information, see [Setting up Major Incident Management in Service Operations Workspace](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/4rpRmqsxj_4aD~jWKTy97A "Set up Major Incident Management (MIM) to manage major incidents from the incident record page in Service Operations Workspace. A major incident (MI) is an incident that results in significant disruption to the business and has a high business impact."). |
      | Caller | User who reported the incident. |
      [Table 1. Incident summary]

      {#view-update-inc-overview-tab__table_q2v_phj_1bc}
   3. Select the Save Summary (![Save icon]()) icon.

   {#view-update-inc-overview-tab__substeps_a4q_hhj_1bc}  
   Note:  
   The static Summary card section is not available. Instead, you can use the AI summary and suggestion card to view the incident summary and resolution information.
4. On the Impact Summary section, edit the information as needed.
   1. Select the Edit impact summary (![Edit summary icon]()) icon.
   2. On the form, fill in the details.  
      {#view-update-inc-overview-tab__table_wt2_1kj_1bc__entry__2}

      | Field | Description |
      |-|-|
      | Business impact | Impact of the incident on the business. |
      | Configuration item | Primary configuration item that is impacted. |
      | Service | Primary business service that is impacted. |
      | Service offering | Consists of one or more service commitments that uniquely define the level of service in terms of availability, scope, pricing, and packaging options. Service offering enables you to receive different features and their levels of performance for a given service. |
      [Table 2. Impact summary]

      {#view-update-inc-overview-tab__table_wt2_1kj_1bc}  
      For the reference fields such as Configuration item, Service offering and Service, you can do the following actions:
      * Select the Preview record icon (![Preview icon]()) to display a preview of that record information on the same page. If necessary, you can also select Open record to open the record on a separate tab.
      * Select the Dependency view icon (![Dependency icon]()) to view the dependency map of the configuration item (CI) in a modal view experience.

      {#view-update-inc-overview-tab__ul_kwm_kts_zbc}  
      Note:  
      Selecting any empty reference field such as Configuration item, Service offering and Service in SOW displays only the recent selection values instead of automatic searching and displaying the results of the field values available in the system. This change increases the overall performance of the reference fields. This change is applicable only to reference fields with no field values. By default, this change is enabled. To revert this change, set the Reference search on click (ref_search_on_click) UX page property to set to <kbd class="ph userinput">true</kbd>.
   3. Select the Save Impact Summary (![Save icon]()) icon.
   {#view-update-inc-overview-tab__substeps_hrw_pjj_1bc}
5. On the Location field of the Impact section, select View impacted locations to view the impacted locations and users on a world map in a separate tab.  
   The Impacted location tab displays the following information:
   * Number of impacted users -- Number of users impacted by the incident.  
     Note:  
     The number of impacted users is calculated based on the following data sources:
     * Caller of the incident.
     * Callers of the child incidents.
     * Service offerings associated with the Incident. This source is only used if Service Portfolio Management Foundation is activated and being used. For more information, see [Activate Service Portfolio Management](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/Q~89IdWiVJypf75u3ywYfg "The Service Portfolio Management Core plugin (com.snc.service_portfolio_core) is available by default for ITSM licensed customers. You can activate additional available related plugins for enhanced features and functionality.").
     {#view-update-inc-overview-tab__ul_vqx_wkj_1bc}
   * Number of impacted locations -- Number of unique locations calculated based on the number of users.
   * Impact world map -- Map of impacted locations marked on the world map along with the impacted users. You can view the impacted users counts and details at these locations. You can further narrow down to the continent, country, state, or city level.

   {#view-update-inc-overview-tab__ul_nv4_5kj_1bc}  
   Note:  
   * The Location section is available only if the Major Incident Management for Service Operations Workspace (sn_sow_mim) plugin is installed and active, and if the incident is a major incident. For more information, see [Major Incident Management in Service Operations Workspace](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/9f4I6JcGUMI0Txrw8VjrDg "Create and manage major incidents in Service Operations Workspace.").
   * You can add multiple locations from the Affected location related list in the Related records tab of the Major incident record.
   {#view-update-inc-overview-tab__ul_pzk_lqc_12c}
6. Select the following cards to add or update the configuration items associated with the Incident.
   1. Select the Affected CIs card to add or remove the configuration items (CI) that are affected by the incident.
   2. Select the Impacted Services/CIs card to add or remove the Configurations items or Services impacted by the incident.
   3. Select the Assets card to add or remove the configuration items that users use as assets.

   {#view-update-inc-overview-tab__substeps_ow2_tlj_1bc}  
   You can search and filter the Configuration Items (CI) based on the configuration class when you add the affected CIs to an incident record.  
   When adding a list containing more than 50 child incidents, affected CIs, impacted services/CIs or assets, the Multiple Record Associator (MRA) component batch processes in async and helps adding them in background thereby increasing the overall performance of the system. This feature works only if the number of items to be added is more than 50 as the async Threshold configuration property is set to 50.  
   Note:  
   The child incidents are added from the Child incidents related list in the Related records tab while the affected CIs, impacted services/CIs or assets are added from the Overview tab of an incident record.
7. On the Cause section, add or update the cause of the incident.
   1. Select Add cause.
   2. Enter Probable cause of the incident.
   3. Select Save cause (![Save icon]()) icon.
   {#view-update-inc-overview-tab__substeps_un2_1mj_1bc}
8. On the Resolution section, add the resolution information to resolve the incident.  
   Note:  
   Populate the values in this section only when the incident is ready to be resolved.
   1. Select Add resolution.
   2. On the form, fill in the details.  
      {#view-update-inc-overview-tab__table_bf3_pmj_1bc__entry__2}

      | Field | Description |
      |-|-|
      | Resolution code | Category in which the incident is resolved. |
      | Resolution notes | Details on how the incident is resolved. |
      [Table 3. Resolution section]

      {#view-update-inc-overview-tab__table_bf3_pmj_1bc}
   3. Select the Save resolution (![Save icon]()) icon.
   {#view-update-inc-overview-tab__substeps_abx_jmj_1bc}
9. On the Compose section, post messages to the activity stream and send emails to stakeholders.
   1. Enter and post the Work notes (Private) message to the activity stream.  
      Note:  
      By default, the Work notes (Private) option is selected for you to enter and post the message.
   2. Enter and post the Additional comments (Customer visible) message to the activity stream.
   3. Enter and post the Action taken on the major incident to the activity stream.
   4. Compose and then send Email to the stakeholders.

   {#view-update-inc-overview-tab__substeps_k1d_gnj_1bc}  
   The activity stream supports the following features:
   * The activity stream in the Overview and Details tab displays the activity information in tiles that are collapsible. By default, the latest event activity tile, if a work note or additional comment, is expanded and the other consecutive event activity tiles are collapsed. The collapsed tile only displays the time stamp and the activity event source name. This ensures a clean UI and enables you to expand and view the activity information when required. To enable this feature, set the Enable the expandable activity stream tiles (enableExpandableActivityStreamTiles) UX page property to <kbd class="ph userinput">true</kbd>.
   * An internal tag is added for the work notes.
   * You can define, customize, and apply tags to the activity streams. These tags help you search and filter the activity based on the tags. By default, no pre-defined tags are available in the base system. However, you can use the Activity stream property (activitystreamprops) UX Page Properties for SOW to define and customize your tags for incident records. For more information, see [Define and customize activity stream tags](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/JdnW1Pw_ZDyOejep94WBXw "Define and customize the activity stream tags for the record pages in Service Operations Workspace. The tags helps in filtering the activity from the activity streams as required.").
   {#view-update-inc-overview-tab__ul_ebd_2dd_bdc}
{#view-update-inc-overview-tab__steps_mcf_gkq_kdc}
**Related concepts**   

* [Viewing incident record information using the Contextual side panel](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/Is~pVulzhychaejFJSbfIg "View the incident record information, such as caller details and assets, from the Contextual side panel. Use this information to help manage an incident more efficiently.")
* [Remedial actions using Playbook](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/xJ66u1YJJn1tqsmwiBx5tQ "Resolve the CI-related issues using the remedial actions using Playbook in the Investigate tab.")
* [Incident Management in Service Operations Workspace reference](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/EEy54zsTSXlJtO7t~l_vVg "Reference topics provide additional information about Incident Management in Service Operations Workspace.")  
**Related tasks**   

* [Create an incident in Service Operations Workspace](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/DX7Hz9WAFvHCv6apiiNpGg "Track the investigation, possible solutions, and resolution of a problem for a customer.")
* [Work on an incident list page in Service Operations Workspace](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/JEehtYaqJl5l8F9K1_u6YQ "Perform various actions on an incident from the incident list page in Service Operations Workspace (SOW).")
* [Work on an incident record in Service Operations Workspace](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/QurZTkwKnKIiMg5xEkZyDA "If resolving the incident involves creating a problem, change, service request, and so on, you can create them directly from the incident record.")
* [Close resolved incident](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/73gjz_3ufF~D~TSgW5EVIg "Close a resolved incident when the user is satisfied with the provided resolution.")
* [Reopen an incident in Service Operations Workspace](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/M~2KqqtKwJdbd~nJBMOiNw "Reopen a resolved incident from the incident record in Service Operations Workspace (SOW).")

