Page 363 - Handbook of Modern Telecommunications

3-154 CRC Handbook of Modern Telecommunications, Second Edition

3.6.8.2 Taxonomy by Insight Research
Companies performing market analysis on telecommunications usually work with their own model
(market segmentation) in order to distinguish themselves from others.
Insight Research Corporation defines some segments and subsegments as shown on Table 3.6.2. This
is a very individual grouping of processes and functions. Basically, the core support processes and func-
tions are well represented without claiming general applicability. By including workforce management,
middleware solutions, and professional services, this taxonomy goes beyond the core functionality and
recommend service orientation.

3.6.8.3 Taxonomy by Amdocs
The following table (Table 3.6.3) illustrates the OSS Observer’s telecom software market taxonomy as
seen by Amdocs. Amdocs has reached the size and power by now to be able to redefine existing taxon-
omy standards. The list of support processes and functions is complete and state-of-the-art. As expected
from a large service company in the area of OSS/BSS, the structure is simpler than eTOM and easier to
implement. Amdocs will most likely follow the time-to-market demand of its customers.

3.6.8.4 Taxonomy by the Gartner Group
Gartner defines the OSS market as follows (Gartner, March 2007):
• Inventory—tracks and manages network assets. In this ongoing process, installed and on-hand
network assets are tracked for efficient inventory, procurement, repair, and reuse.
• Provisioning and Activation—includes systems and steps related to the process of implementing
orders for customers.
• Network Management—includes configuration, traffic, fault, security, element, and perfor-
mance management.
• Planning and Engineering—includes the steps from network planning to construction (for exam-
ple, budgeting, procurement, and line and service testing).
• Workforce Management—encompasses activities surrounding work assignment, coordination,
and tracking. The process involves ensuring that personnel with the appropriate qualifications
are given the correct equipment at the right time and place. Examples of IT applications and
systems supporting workforce management are dispatch, workflow management, and project
tracking.

3.6.8.5 eTOM Taxonomy
Table 3.6.4 gives a summary of several processes used in the practice when the eTOM recommendations
are followed.

3.6.9 eBusiness
In general eBusiness is understood as the interaction among business partners with the help of informa-
tion technologies. It refers not only to buying and selling over the Internet (or other computer network),
but also to servicing customers and collaborating with business partners.
The term eBusiness has often been interchanged with the term eCommerce. However, it is becoming
increasingly accepted that the use of eCommerce should be restricted to referring to just those Web
transactions (mainly business-to-consumer) that are used while buying and selling services and goods
over the Internet.
An eBusiness enterprise is, then, an enterprise that utilizes Internet and related technologies to com-
pete effectively in its business space.