This is preliminary list of topics I would like to cover this semester. Depending on the level of interest in the class in certain topics, some of the topics I have listed below may be elaborated on or replaced.
This schedule will evolve in other ways as well. I will be scheduling practitioners of Telecommunications Management to come in and address the class. Also, some of the lectures will be taped at the SEI studio. These will be announced on this page as well.
August 29
Introduction to the course
Introduction to the Web and Online Resources that will be used throughout the semester.
August 31
I will discuss prototypical voice and data communication applications from a managerial and technical perspective. I will attempt to convey simple, conceptual models of networking using these examples. The objective of this lecture is to provide an organizing framework for the material we will see this semester.
Read Chapter 1, Keen and review chapters 1 and 2 of OTA authored document on reengineering government services
The powerpoint slides for this lecture on Telecommunications Management is here
September 5
We will review the Telecommunications Business Decision Sequence. You should have read Minicase 1-2 and be ready to discuss it. In particular, give some thought to the technologies used in the network and the operational and strategic choices that must be made in deploying such a network. Review Chapter 2 to get a brief introduction to networking technology.
To operationalize the ideas in the case, develop a university application of telecommunications based on imaging technology described in the case.
September 7
We will discuss different types of "Business" Information and their implications for an organization's telecommunications infrastructure. We will also examine the evolution and integration of Computing and Communication Architechtures
Read Chapter 2, 3, Keen
The powerpoint slides for the lecture on bandwidth demands placed by different types of business information is here
The powerpoint slides for the lecture on Distributed Data Processing and communication is here
September 12/14
Telecommunications Technology I: Fundamentals
Read Chapter 5,6 from Keen
The powerpoint slides for the lecture on transmission and transmission media is here
September 19/21
Telecommunications Technology II: Fundamentals
Read Chapter 6 from Keen and review lecture notes
The powerpoint slides for the lecture on error control and flow control is here
The powerpoint slides for the lecture on multiplexing is here
September 26/28
Wrap up discussion on technology fundamentals.
Mid Term Exam I will be given on
October 3/5
Networking: Wide Area Networks
We will begin with a discussion of WAN's for voice communication. The objective is to understand the technologies used in voice networks and learn about the principal offerings in the market place. Strategic and operational management issues will be discussed. In addition, we will review the history of regulation in this industry and the continuing changes that are fundamentally changing the marketplace.
Read Chapter 8 from Keen
The powerpoint slides for all the lectures on wide area networking is here
October10/12
This week's discussion of WAN's will consider data networks. We will review the essential features of packet switching technology and discuss public data networks and the services available in the marketplace. Strategic and operational management of data networks will also be discussed.
The powerpoint slides for the lecture on high speed networking is here
October 17/19
Ms. Mary Pretz-Lawson, Director of Telecommunications at CMU will address the class on October 17 on Voice Network Management
Networking: Local Area Networking
This is probably the fastest changing and most widely used networking technology in organizations. We will discuss the basic features of local area networking technology and operational issues related to managing this technology. Important technology strategy issues related to technology choices (e.g., ATM vs. Fast Ethernet) will also be discussed.
October 24/26
We will continue to discuss Local Area Networking topics
Chapter 8, Continued
October 31
The second mid term exam will be given on
November 2
Introduction to Internetworking
This series of lectures will provide an overview of this complex topic. Our focus will be on reviewing the TCP/IP and OSI protocols in order to understand the functionality of various inter networking devices. The role of internetworks in facilitating intra- and inter-organizational applications will be discussed.
Read Chapter 7 from Keen
The powerpoint slides for all the lectures on Internetworking is here
November 7/9
We continue our discussion of Internetworking. However, our focus will be on strategic issues. In particular, we will study the importance of internetworking as an enabler of cross functional applications.
Read Chapter 7 from Keen
November 14/16
The remainder of the course will focus on strategic uses of Telecommunications Technology . In particular we will examine the ways in which acquisition and procurement have been greatly modified and reengineered in both public and private sector organizations using telecommunication-based technologies such as EDI.
The Walmart EDI case
Chapters 10 and 11 from the Keen book discuss issues of general relevance to strategic applications.
The powerpoint slides for the lecture on strategic uses of telecommunication is here.
November21
Discussion of Walmart EDI Case, Continued
November23
Thanksgiving Holiday
November 28/30
We will continue our discussion of EDI and electronic commerce using several online resources that I point to in the section Textbooks and other resources.. Of these, I want everbody to review the following materials which discuss EDI and Electronic Commerce in the public sector. Specific chapters will be assigned for class discussion.
This document describes the business case for electronic commerce and edi and also discusses technical infrastructure required to enable it. The ideas presented apply equally to public and private sector organizations. The document is in adobe acrobat format. You can download a copy of the acrobat reader. We will discuss the use of EDI in the Federal Government using Chapters 2, 3, and 4 of the NIST report.
December 5/7
The term paper is due on December 5. It will also be presented to the class on the same day.
The final exam is on December 7.
Ramayya Krishnan rk2x@andrew.cmu.edu