Standardized services provided to international organizations imply a need for consistency andscalability in how releases are managed across diverse contexts. TheITIL 4 Practitioner: Release Management document explains that release models are used to standardize the approach to releases:"Release models define the structure, contents, and schedule of releases... They ensure consistent and repeatable processes, which is particularly important for organizations with standardized services"(Section 3.2.2).
* Option A (The release plans) refers to specific plans for individual releases, which may be affected indirectly but are not the primary aspect impacted by standardization needs.
* Option B (Continuous integration) and Option C (Continuous delivery) are development practices that may interact with release management but are not directly affected by the need for standardization across international services.
* Option D (The release models) is directly affected, as standardized services require well-defined release models to ensure consistency, repeatability, and scalability across international contexts.
The situation directly impacts the design and application of release models to accommodate standardized services globally. Thus, the correct answer is D.

Third parties, such as suppliers or vendors, often play a role in the execution of releases, especially when they provide components or services involved in the release. TheITIL 4 Practitioner: Release Management document states:"Performing a release according to an agreed model often involves dependencies on third parties, such as suppliers providing software updates, infrastructure, or support services, which need to be integrated during the release execution"(Section 3.4).
* Option A (Release management alignment with other practices) is an internal coordination activity, less likely to directly involve third parties.
* Option B (Identifying an applicable model) is a planning activity typically handled internally by the release manager.
* Option C (Performing a release according to an agreed model) directly involves executing the release, which often requires third-party components or services, creating a dependency.
* Option D (Verifying a release) may involve third-party tools but is less dependent on their active participation compared to execution.
The correct answer is C, as performing the release is the activity most likely to depend on third parties.