Implementation of the Telecom Management Network (TMN) at WorldCom—Strategic Information Systems Methodology Focus

The telecom industry is experiencing massive technological changes in which a new technology today quickly becomes an old one tomorrow. Telecom Management Network (TMN) was developed as a network management framework to enable innovative management of telecom networks. It is a reference model that provides a unified framework for administration, operation, management and makes provision for services in today's complex telecom environment. It is an innovation that requires the re-engineering of organizational structures, procedures, and even cultures. This study investigated WorldCom, the global telecom powerhouse that has established TMN as the backbone of their long-term business strategy. One of the authors participated in the project, as a key figure throughout the planning and implementation cycle. The focus of this manuscript is on capturing the methodical approach WorldCom adopted to revitalize information systems planning and implementation based on the TMN framework. The alignment between the technological architecture and business goals at an organization constitutes the main theoretical basis of the study. Relevant discussions are made on the TMN framework as a general business model for telecom industry, on the functional relationship between integrated systems (IS) and business organizations at WorldCom, and on the motivational factors that triggered TMN adoption at WorldCom. Also discussed are detailed descriptions of information (data) and technical architectures defined on the basis of TMN model and different approaches taken for integration and migration of existing systems. Finally, lessons learned from the TMN implementation are discussed.