Page 358 - Handbook of Modern Telecommunications

Network Management and Administration 3-149

that interoperate more effectively with a carrier’s legacy environment, and can be configured to handle
multiple lines of business. The bottom line: significantly reduced management costs, and inventory data
that more accurately reflects inventory reality, tracking inventory changes in close to real time. As the
technology has shifted, so has the vendor community, with significant ongoing M&A activity, revenue
growth (for some), and shifting customer demographics.
Inventory systems must support a multitechnology and multilayer approach that captures the
complete end-to-end environment. By capturing and integrating all technology domains—from
DSL to IP—in a common inventory system, you can finally optimize operations by applying consis-
tent network management principles by identifying where and how different technologies interact
in the network.
With this perspective, you can quickly navigate between the different open systems interconnec-
tion (OSI) layers to identify dependencies and perform root cause analysis in the event of a network or
service problem. This functionality also allows you to establish and enforce capacity utilization rules
across and between layers, as well as understand complex relationships among different technologies
and resources from two perspectives: the service view and the network resource view.
Principal functions are:

• Install and administer the physical network
• Supports Assurance Processes
• Supports Fulfillment and Billing Processes
• Perform work in the network
• Manage the repair activities
• Align inventory with network
• Manage spare parts
• Manage faulty parts
• Network Discovery—keeps the inventory up-to-date, with reduced manual work
3.6.6.2 Workforce Management
Workforce Management applications manage field forces to make optimum use of manpower and other
resources such as vehicles. They are used to schedule resources, provide a map of field skill sets, and
provide forecasting and load-balancing capabilities.
Workforce Management can be used to manage both internal and external (customer) resources in
both service assurance and provisioning areas.
Principal functions are:
• Scheduling: Applications are usually designed to build schedules for groups and individuals, tak-
ing into account shift patterns, daily duties, multiple skill sets, resource availability, schedule
preferences, and fluctuating nature of the workload.
• Forecasting: Application usually calculates optimal staffing requirements with input of historic
statistics, service level goals, call center costs, change parameters, and expected workload. They
may include resources that are required by date, time, queue, resource pool, etc.
• Dynamic Management: Application provides for immediate and unexpected changes in resource
status, such as sick leave, or when unforeseen changes in the workload dictate that conditions be
constantly monitored and spontaneous adjustments made.
• Operational Support: This function typically tracks and reports Work Force Management data
such as actuals to forecasts and gathering individual and group statistics.
3.6.6.3 Resource, Network Planning, and Development Process
This process encompasses development and acceptance of strategy, description of standard network config-
urations for operational use, and definition of rules for network planning, installation, and maintenance.