Telecommunications Management, 90-768, Spring 1994
This document was last modified on 12/01/94
Instructor: Ramayya Krishnan
Class Times: 2:00-3:20pm, MW
Classroom: 1002 HBH
Office: 2109 HBH
E-mail: rk2x@cmu.edu
Phone: 268-2174
Fax: 268-7036
Class Bboard: org.heinz.telcom
Teaching Assistant: Sumit Dutta Chowdhury
This syllabus will undergo continued development and change throughout
the Spring 1995 semester. I plan to provide links to copies of the
Power Point Slides I will use in the classroom, homeworks and other
resources on the Web.
Select any of the items below if you would like to jump directly to
that section or separate document.
The purpose of this course is to provide managers with an
understanding of the key technical and managerial issues in the
effective development and use of telecommunications by organizations.
Discussion of technology will be set in the context of applications,
particularly those emphasizing inter-organizational coordination and
service delivery. Topics covered will include basic concepts of
telephony and data communication, related hardware and software
technology, standards and protocols, local and wide area networks,
network management, common carrier services, strategic and operational
applications, and emerging trends.
The prerequisite for graduate students who want to take the course is
an introductory course on Information Systems. Undergraduates are
required to additionally have a 3.25 GPA (on a scale of 4).
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Upon completion of this course students should understand:
- The major drivers from an organization's information processing
perspective for telecommunications technology
- The fundamental concepts underlying all telecommunication
technologies (i.e., transmission, media, bandwidth, analog vs.
digital, etc.)
- Major official and de-facto standards for data communications
hardware, software and protocols, and why open systems and standards
are important.
- Types of Networks enabled by the technology
- New forms of organizational relationships enabled by the
technology and their managerial implications
- New opportunities for service delivery enabled by the technology
and their managerial implications
- Structure of the Telecommunications Industry in the US
- Introductory basics of how to design, implement, and manage
networks, including wide-area networks (WANs) and local-area networks
(LANs).
- Essentials of ongoing communications network management, security,
and control.
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A high level of individual student motivation and initiative will
be expected. Students will be expected to use Web-based
telecommunications resources and review applications and technology
described in trade journals such as NetWork World (available in the
SEI library). Individual and group learning projects which require
self-guided research, experimentation, and an entrepreneurial attitude
are an important component of the course. Finally, since the course is
an experiment in using the Web and other online resources for both
instruction and communication, I would like to request students to be
flexible and cooperative as the course evolves through the semester.
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Ramayya
Krishnan, office 2109A Hamburg Hall. I will usually be available
to meet in my office Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00pm to 3:30pm.
However, it is a good idea to schedule an appointment with me. You
should also use the bboard and email to communicate with me and the
TA. Remember that all postings to the bboard are public. If you would
like to send me a message, please use email.
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- Peter G. W. Keen and J. Michael Cummins, Networks in Action,
Wadsworth, 1994. This is the prescribed text for this class. It
contains a large number of cases and adopts the perspective of
integrating technology and the organizational process.
In addition to the book, I expect students to read Network
World, a trade publications that summarizes technology as well as
business applications, and the Federal Information Technology
Weekly, publication that discusses issues of interest to
Government Information Technology managers. These publications are
available at the SEI library and you should make the time to read them
at least once every two weeks.
We will also make use of the extensive, online resources about
Telecommunications that is available through the World
Wide Web and Mosaic. An excellent starting point is the Distributed
ELectronic Telecommunications Archive (DELTA) project maintained
by Prof.Robert
Minch. In addition, I strongly recommend the WWW virtual library
of telecommunication resources.
To help students make use of Web-based resources, we will assign one
class period to introduce everybody to the Web. This session will
introduce tools that can be used to search for Web-based
Telecommunication resources as well as a step by step procedure to
create Web pages using HTML.
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The grades will be based on two exams, a mid term and a final, a final paper and homework projects. The
approximate breakdown is as follows.
- Midterm: 25
- Final: 25
- Term Paper: 25
- Homework: 25
- Total: 100
The term paper can focus on managerial or technical issues related to Telecommunications. Appropriate topics
include the impact of telecommunications on an industry or organization, proposals about how new enabling
technologies will make new applications or organiztional forms possible, societal impacts (e.g., privacy issues)
related to the introduction of this technology or will develop a detailed description of the technology. The
term paper will be a group project. Each group can consist of up to three students. The paper should be well
researched and original work. Plan to make good use of the resources pointed to in the section on Textbooks and other resources. Its length should be about 25 pages. The term paper
will be presented during the last two weeks of class and turned in on the final exam day.
January 16
January 18
Overview of Course
Introduction to the WWW and resources on the Web
that will be used throughout the semester.
January 23
January 25
Information Needs of Organizations
New types of Computing Applications
Managing new Organizational Forms
Why Telecommunications Management?
What are the business drivers and what are the enabling technolgies?
The Telecommunications Decision Making Framework (Reach, Range and
Responsiveness)
January 30
February 1
Telecommunications Technology I: Fundamentals
February 6
February 8
Telecommunications Technology II: Fundamentals
February 13
February 15
Telecommunications Technology III: Fundamentals
February 20
February 22
NetWorking: Wide Area Networks
Cicuit Switched and Packet Switched Networks
common channel signalling
POTS, PDN, VPN, VAN
Structure of the Telecommunications Industry in the US (History and
Where we are at right now)
Applications: Voice and a range of Voice Processing
FTS 2000: A Overview and an update (technology, acquistion systems
etc.) Questions: How does the change in the structure of the
Telecommunications Industry change FTS 2000? How does the change in
the Political Structure (e.g., removal of GSA) change the structure of
FTS 2000?
EDI and Inter-organizational coordination
WalMart EDI Case
Something on ATMS and Electronic Benefit Systems
February 20
February 22
Networking: Local Area Networking
Basic Lan technology
LAN Standards
PBX, Digital PBX vs. LAN
PBX vs. Centrex
Managerial Problems that need to be addressed
Moves and changes, virtual organizations
Speaker: CMU Telcommunications Dept., Centrex vs. PBX at CMU,
Organization of the Telecommunications Dept. at CMU
Tour of the Data Comm. Center at CMU
February 27
March 1
High Speed Networking (Frame Relay, SMDS, ATM)
Applications Enabled by the Technology
Speaker: Medical Applications: Get the Dr. that Giri Suggested
March 6
March 8
Communications Architecture: ISO-OSI, SNA
March 13
March 15
Communications Architecture: TCP/IP, InterNetworking
March 20
March 22
Spring Break
March 27
March 29
National Information Infrastructure: the Internet
Speaker: Ben Bennington, Speaking about the NII, On and Off Ramps
April 3
April 5
The WWW, Issues Related to becoming a Service Provider on the Web,
Electronic Commerce, Electronic Filings (EDGAR with the SEC),
Electronic Filings with the IRS
Commerce Net, ArtsNet, Privacy, Security, Copyright, Economic and
Organizational Issues
April 10
April 12
Client Server Computing
Business Process and Business Network redesign
April 17
April 19
Technology Adoption Under Network Externalities
Interaction with Standards Setting Bodies
Tridas Mukopadhyay?
April 24
Term Paper Presentations
April 26
Term Paper Presentations
May 1
Term Paper Presentations
May 3
Term Paper Presentations
Summary
Date Topic Reading
1/20 Introduction DATON skim
1/25 Telecommunications Fundamentals Stallings Ch. 4
1/27 Telecommunications Fundamentals Stallings Ch. 4
2/1 Telecommunications Fundamentals Stallings Ch. 6
2/3 Basic transmission protocols Stallings Ch. 5
2/8 Building the Network: WANs Stallings Ch. 7
2/10 Building the Network: WANs Handout
2/15 Building the Network: LANs Stallings Ch. 8
2/17 Communications Architecture Stallings Ch 10
2/22 TCP/IP Stallings 10
2/24 Introduction to Internet Services Handout
3/1 Introduction to Adv. Int. Services Handout
3/3 Implementing Internet Services Guest Speaker
3/8 Review Session Handout
3/10 Midterm Quiz
3/22 Building Internet Services Handout
3/24 Emerging Network Tech: SONET/ATM Chapter 9, Handout
3/29 Emerging Network Tech: Wireless Handouts
3/31 Emerging Network Tech: Satellite Handouts
4/5 LAN Operating Systems Handouts
4/7 LAN Management Guest Speaker
4/12 Groupware: Lotus Notes Demo Guest Speaker
4/14 Telecommunications Policy Handout
4/19 Telecommunications Economics,
Standards and Business Strategy Handout
4/21 Strategic Industry Impacts IRS Case
4/26 Term Project Presentations
4/28 Term Project Presentations
5/3 Finals Review
The group project will focus on the impact of
telecommunications on the
different industries or will develop a detailed description of technology.
Please form a four person group by Tuesday 1/25. Project topics will be
assigned randomly to different groups. Projects will be a 25 page paper to
be handed in on 5/3 as well as presentation on 4/26 and 4/28.
Session 1
INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW
This session examines the changing role of communication-based technologies
in organizations and identifies key telecommunications technology,
management and policy choices and issues confronting both
telecommunications and business managers. These issues and choices will be
addressed in greater detail during the semester.
Readings:
- "IT in the 1990s: Managing Organizational Interdependence," J.F.
Rockart and J.E. Short, Sloan Management Review, Winter 1989, pp. 7-17
(optional to be handed out)
- "DATON CORPORATION" A. Kambil and M. Sirbu, Mimeo, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, 1988 Skim case
Session 2/3: Telecommunications Technology 1: Fundamentals
This session reviews basic concepts in telecommunications from a technical
perspective. Subjects covered include:
- Information
- Analog and digital transmission
- Attenuation, Noise and Distortion
- Analog and Frequency Modulation
- Frequency and Time Division Multiplexing
- Digital vs Analog Communications - Sampling Theorem
Chapter 4 Stallings
Session 4: Telecommunications Technology 2: Fundamentals
This session continues consideration of basic concepts in
telecommunications from a technical perspective. Subjects covered include:
- Characteristics and Efficiency of Alternative Transmission Media: Twisted pair, coax, point-to-point and
satellite microwaves and fiber optics
- Performance: Bandwidth, Delay and Reliability
Chapter 6 Stallings
Session 5: Telecommunications Technology 3: Basic Protocols
Telecommunications protocols specify conventions for interaction between
different communicating devices. In this session we examine how different
protocols are applied to enable different devices to effectively communicate and their relative efficiency and
costs in utilizing
telecommunications resources. Topics to be covered include:
- Data Terminal and Data Communications Equipment
- Connectors
- Data Link Control
- Coding and Compression
Chapter 5 Stallings
Session 6/7: Telecommunications Technology 4: Building the Network
The previous technology sessions primarily examined the transmission of
information between two points. This session builds on the prior session
and examines issues that arise in implementing a network to communicate
among multiple parties. Subjects covered in this session will include:
- The long distance and local loop network
- Multiplexing hierarchies for the long distance network
- Common Channel Interoffice Signalling
- Circuit and Packet switching
- Wide Area Networks
Stallings: Chapter 7
Session 8: Telecommunications Technology 5: Local Networks
This session examines the design and implementation of local networks.
Specifically it will examine the use of local area networks or digital PBXs
to meet local communications requirements. Subjects covered in this session
will include:
- LANs: Topology, Transmission, Layout and Access Control
- Overview of the Local Area Network Standards (IEEE 802 series)
- Digital PBXs
Chapter 8: Stallings
Session 9: Communications Architectures 1: ISO-OSI and SNA
In this session we consider the organization of software and hardware that
specifies a communications architecture. Specifically we consider the
International Standards Organizations seven layer Open Systems
Interconnection Model. We also briefly consider the structure of SNA.
Session 10: Communications Architectures 2: TCP/IP
In this session we look at the alternative communications architectures
specified by TCP/IP. We consider the evolution of the TCP/IP, its core
functions and components, strengths and weaknesses, and requirements for
basic configuration.
Session 11/12/13: The Internet
In these three sessions we explore the structure and organization of the
Internet, and familiarize ourselves with different Internet services: e.g
telnet, ftp, archie, gopher, WAIS and World Wide Web. We consider how to
connect to the Internet and also how to develop services on the Internet.
Session 14/15 Review and Quiz
Session 16: Building Internet Applications
This session looks at MOSAIC as a powerful client to the World Wide Web. In
this session we look at how to create hypertext documents for access and
retrieval over a network. You will convert your term projects into a
document that can be browsed using MOSAIC.
Session 17: Emerging Technology Infrastructures and Architectures
The transition to digital transmission is transforming the architecture of
the communications infrastructure. In this session we examine the effects
of new high bandwidth transmission media and changing communications
requirements on the architecture of the communications infrastructure.
Topics covered include:
- ISDN
- Frame Relay
- BISDN
- SONET
- ATM
Session 18: Emerging Technology Infrastructures and Architectures 2
Improvements in radio based communications are transforming the structure
of communications network service architectures. In this session we examine
the features and applications of these technologies to business needs.
Topics include:
- Cellular radio
- Radio LANS
Session 19: Emerging Technology Infrastructures and Architectures 3
Improvements in satellite technologies are transforming the range of
communications alternatives available to managers. In this session we
examine the features and applications of traditional and emerging satellite
systems. Topics include:
- Satellite communications
- USATs and VSAT networking
Session 20: Collaborative Technologies and Communications (CT&C): LAN
Operating Systems
The shift toward LAN based client server computing requires new ways of managing the allocation of
communications and computing services. In this
session we consider the features and resource management functions of LAN
operating systems.
Session 21: Collaborative Technologies and Communications: Managing
Local Area Networks
Guest speaker: In this session we focus on the design, management and
implementation of local area networks and the interconnection of these
networks in an organizational setting.
Session 22: CT&C Applications: Groupware
In this session we go beyond the traditional tools for electronic mail and
computer conferencing and consider new tools that support collaborative
work. These include asynchronous distributed computing tools like "Lotus
Notes" and synchronous communications tools such as video-conferencing. We
examine how firms may use these tools to support key business processes.
Session 23: U.S Telecommunications Policy
This session discusses the evolution of government policy, the context for
telecommunications management in the U.S. Beginning with a consideration
of different regulatory actors and objectives, we will move through the
regulatory history to focus on the breakup of AT&T as a the pivotal event.
We examine the implications of this event for management and consider the
economic and political rationale underlying this regulatory regime.
Readings: Teaching Note - Ajit Kambil
Session 24: Standardization and Innovation Adoption
In this session we consider the standards setting bodies and processes for
standards formation in the telecommunications arena. Specifically we
examine the requirement for critical mass in the new telecommunications
services a manager may contemplate. In addition we consider how managers
may use standards strategically.
- Technology adoption under Externalities
- Network Externalities and the Requirement for Critical Mass in
Telecommunications
Session 25: Strategic Applications of the Telecommunications Resource
The objective of this course is to make the telecommunications resource
available as a strategic tool. In this summary session, we combine the
telecommunications discussed throughout with the manager's strategy
choices. In addition to the role of telecommunications in the firm's
policy structure, we will look at significant changes now on the horizon,
particularly the "network firm" and electronic marketplaces.
Readings:
"ELECTRONIC FILING (A) and (B)" Ajit Kambil, Mimeo, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, 1987
Session 26/27 Group Presentations
Session 27 Finals Review
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If you have any
comments, about the course or any other matter, you can find a comment
card here.
Ramayya
Krishnan rk2x@cmu.edu
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