TeleManagement Forum Framework - Case Study Example

TM Forum Framework Submitted Submitted by: Submitted on: 6 June Introduction  This paper presents an overview of the TM Forum Frameworx and all of its components. It highlights the effectiveness of standardization and ease of usage introduced through the said frame work. The TM Forum stands for TeleManagement Forum. It is a well thought integrated business architecture for Service Oriented Enterpises. The framework is designed for the standardized implementation and automation of business processes and operational management. It is a complete package that introduces improvement and agility in the on going business operations and processes. Considered for transformation of businesses into more effective and manageable forms, this framework is highly appreciated with its more that 700 members worldwide. The main and essential components of this framework include the Business Process Framework (eTOM), Information Framework (SID), Integration Framework (TNA) and Application Framework (TAM). These frameworks are described in the forth coming text below. The initial discussion is about a combined notion named New Generation Operation Support Systems (NGOSS). 2 - What is NGOSS? NGOSS can be thought of as a fully optimized, standardized, comprehensive and customized Operating System that curtails every possible needs of the business industry. Its like business industry’s own operating system that provides an extremely agile and streamlined way to implement the business processes and operations. It is designed by TM Forum and includes tools for all the stakeholders of a business. The objective is to introduce optimality and to expand the possible customized yet flexible and low cost solutions for software and Internet based infra structures of the business industry. This can also be considered as a comprehensive guidance system to develop business architecture, processes and maps. This provides a model way of maintaining repositories and doing business documentation. It comprises of Business Process Framework (eTOM), Information Framework (SID), Integration Framework (TNA) and Conformance Criteria. The NGOSS is proved to be the basic need of Service Providers, Software Vendors and System Integrators. The Figure below (see figure 1.1) highlights diagrammatically the roles of NGOSS. Figure 1.1 3a. eTOM (Enhanced Telecom Operations Map): The complexities in installing and running a network and the problems of filtering out the best and optimal practices are answered comprehensively through the TM Forum’s enhanced telecom operations map or standard business process framework. “The eTOM (enhanced telecom Operations Map, published by the TM Forum and the eTOM model describes the full scope of business processes required by a service provider and defines key elements and how they interact.” (Astimen) 3b. SID (Shared Information /Data Model): The information framework provides a standardized model to handle all the information processing needs of an organization. “SID is a unified reference data model providing a single set of terms for business objects in tele-communication. The objective is to enable people in different departments, companies or geographical locations to use the same term to describe the same real world objects, practices and relationships.” (Astimen) 3c. TAM (Telecom Application Map): This application framework is designed to streamline the Business Support Systems (BSS) and Operation Support Systems (OSS) of an organization by providing a standard way of description and grouping of processes and functions. “TAM is one of the primary NGOSS artifact. It considers the role and functionality of the various applications that deliver OSS and BSS capability. Structured along the similar lines to other TM Forum NGOSS artifacts: the process framework – the eTOM and the information framework – the SID, it is presented in a similar layered and vertical structures.” (Astimen) 3d. TNA (Technology Neutral Architecture): This integration framework (NGOSS – TNA) defines standard interfaces and architectural principles for building easily integrated, secure, optimal and flexible OSS (Operations Support Systems) components that are meant to be delivered in Technology Neutral Architecture. “The TNA provides the necessary structural underpinnings and building constructs to support the analysis, design, implementation and deployment of NGOSS – based open distributed computing solutions (BSS/OSS) for communication service providers.” (Astimen) 4. Using/ Implementing eTOM. The implementation of eTOM in the area of military is known to have taken place. HP or Hewlett Packard is known to have made such NGOSS software for an Asian client. Below is an excerpt from the article, “Hewlett Packard has developed new technology based on NGOSS framework for direct application within the tactical operation environment of strategic military & defence customer in Asia. Key technology that was developed as part of customer’s overall initiative to modernize the IT & satellite network infrastructure monitoring and management is the Satellite Network Management (SSM). HP has built and demonstrated this system which monitors the interference in user’s channel frequencies of satellite communication and automatically provisions the affected user’s channel frequency. The network resources to be managed consist of the user frequencies & bands, transponders, satellite modems, demodems, antenna control units(ACU), spectrum analysers, FRADs, IP routers etc. This system was accepted by customer with overwhelming positive feedback from customer’s end users & military commanders.” (Kantaria, Takhar) In addition to the above mentioned area of implementation eTOM can be applied to public utilities service providers. Public utilities industry consists of enterprises that supply water, gas, energy (central heating, hot water, etc.) and electricity. These utilities can be mapped onto horizontal process groupings and vertical end-to-end process groupings of eTOM. 5. eTOM Decomposition with Short Description and Figures. Diagrammatic illustrations below demonstrate the decomposition of eTOM. The figure (see figure 2.1) displays a generic model of how eTOM is decomposed into its specific parts. The general user journey within a system can be mapped onto eTOM as illustrated below: Exhibiting similarity of eTOM structure to Uses case level construction formally highlights the decomposition levels of the business process software. As shown in the next illustration (see figure 2.2) eTOM’s decomposition into operations, process and business levels correspond with the subfunctions, user goals and summary goals within the use case level diagram. Figure 2.2 Process and Use case decomposition The figure above clearly demonstrates the decomposition of eTOM into 6 levels. The journey begins from the 1st decomposed level i.e. that of “Business Activities” proceeding on to “Process groupings of each activity. This further on may be decomposed into “core processes” associated with each process grouping demonstrated earlier. The core processes can further be decomposed into the tasks within each process termed as “Business Process Flows”. The next decomposed level depicts the process flows at operational level. Highlighting the steps involved within the operational flows it also signifies the resources that are being incorporated at this level. The final level at which eTOM is decomposed is the most basic level of “Detailed Process Flows”. The final detailed decomposition of operations and also that of resources incorporated is done at the level of Detailed Process Flows. Examples/Scenarios with figures: (Try to get examples/scenarios on the Military side not commercial side)  Network Management  The network management and IT infrastructures of the U.S. Army and National guards incorporate the implementation of eTOM. The figure below illustrates this implementation in detail. The EIM or Enterprise Infrastructure Management of the U.S. Army was supposed to make any service available over any device over the network. This was aimed at giving military personnel required communications capabilities whenever and wherever needed. At the backend of this software the mapping of data on it involved implementation of eTOM. Layers 5-7 as shown in the figure (see figure 3.1) incorporated IT Management Softwares such as CIM and ITIL. Conclusion The business industry faced certain problems ever since its inception. No standardization in processes, integration, communication, functions and executions existed. It was then that NGOSS emerged as a solution that made available a platform that offered Business Process Framework (eTOM), Information Framework (SID), Integration Framework (TNA) and The Application Framework (TAM). The NGOSS served software vendors, service providers and system integrators. The existence of today’s business process has become inevitable without the implementation of NGOSS within them. References: Astimen. “eTOM App”, Astimen’s blog of KM Telecom. 10 October 2009. Web. 7 June 2011. Kantaria, Yogeshkumar Vallabhdas, Takhar, Manminder Singh. “NGOSS in Unique Environment: Defense Satellite Network Management”, tmforum. November 2009. Web. 7 June 2011. Next Generation OSS Suite. Operations Support Systems: Next Generation OSS. n.d. Web 7 June 2011. SOA Architecture. TM forum online community. 31 March 2010. Web. 7 June 2011. Process and Use case decomposition.TM forum online community. 31 March 2010. Web. 7 June 2011. The Next-Generation Service Layer. Netcracker Technology Corp. 7 Jan 2008. Web. 7 June 2011. “Merging the Power of Network and IT”. B/OSS: Billing and OSS World. Jan 2008. Web. 7June 2011. Read More