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enhanced Telecom Operations

MapTM (eTOM)
The Business Process Framework
For The Information and Communications Services Industry

Addendum A
Detailed Process Decompositions and Flows
for Selected Areas of the Business Process
Framework

GB921a

Member Evaluation Version Draft 0.5 May 2002

TeleManagement Forum 2002


eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A Page iii

Notice

The TeleManagement Forum (TM Forum) has made


every effort to ensure that the contents of this document
are accurate. However, no liability is accepted for any
errors or omissions or for consequences of any use
made of this document.
This document is a draft working document of TM Forum
and is provided to the public solely for comments and
evaluation. It is not a Forum Approved Document and is
solely circulated for the purposes of assisting TM Forum
in the preparation of a final document in furtherance of
the aims and mission of TM Forum. Any use of this
document by the recipient is at its own risk. Under no
circumstances will TM Forum be liable for direct or
indirect damages or any costs or losses resulting from
the use of this document by the recipient.
This document is a copyrighted document of TM Forum.
Without the appropriate permission of the TM Forum,
companies that are not members of TM Forum are not
permitted to make copies (paper or electronic) of this
draft document other than for their internal use for the
sole purpose of making comments thereon directly to TM
Forum.
This document may involve a claim of patent rights by
one or more TM Forum members, pursuant to the
agreement on Intellectual Property Rights between TM
Forum and its members, and by non-members of TM
Forum.
Direct inquiries to the TM Forum office:

1201 Mt. Kemble Avenue


Morristown, NJ 07960 USA
Tel No. +1 973 425 1900
Fax No. +1 973 425 1515
TM Forum Web Page: www.tmforum.org

TeleManagement Forum 2002 GB921a v1.0


eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A Page v

Acknowledgements

enhanced Telecom Operations Map


(eTOM)
The Business Process Framework
Addendum A
Release 1.0 Contributors

This release of this Addendum to the enhanced Telecom Operations MapTM


(eTOM) Business Process Framework builds on the combined efforts of a
large group of individuals from companies all over the world, both in this phase
of the work and the previous activity to develop the core eTOM document.
Most noteworthy is the participation of numerous service providers. The
knowledge and commitment in providing contributions and participating in
discussions are greatly appreciated. For those taking a leadership role for
areas of the work, listed below with an asterisk before their names, significant
time and commitment was involved and provided. The main contributors to this
addendum are:

*Enrico Ronco, Telecom Italia Lab, eTOM Team Leader


Alfred Anaya, Accenture
Peter Huckett, Acterna
David Milham, BT Exact
Hilary Small, CASEwise
Ian Best, Comnitel
*Jane Hall, Fraunhofer Fokus
Masayoshi Ejiri, Fujitsu Ltd
*Kiffin Gish, IQUIP
*Caspar Smits, IQUIP
*Johan Vandenberghe, Lucent Technologies
Sarah Blanks, MetaSolv
Dave Campbell, MetSolv
Jon Barnes, Popkin

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Page vi eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A

*Helena Pechaver Starc, Siebel


Brad May, Siebel
Maywun Wong, Siebel
Veli Kokkonen, Sonera
Wayne Floyd, Sprint PCS
*Michael Richter, Telstra
Debbie Deland, TM Forum
Mike Kelly, TM Forum
*Viviane Cohen, Amdocs
*Balbinder Dhami, Amdocs
Martin Huddleston, QinetiQ
*Pete Stringer, Qinetiq
Nick Webb, Qinetiq
*Marta Turnbull, Qwest
*Jesus Arango, Telefonica Moviles
Oscar Duenas, Telefonica Moviles
Raul Megia, Telefonica Moviles
Daniel Paul, Telefonica Moviles

Valuable input, comments and directional reviews from the following people
are also greatly appreciated:
Al Vincent, IGS
John Strassner, Intelliden
Thomas Tenevall, Ki Consulting
Keith Willetts, Mandarin Associates
Kirk Shrewsbury, MCI Worldcom
John Reilly, MetaSolv
Jim Warner, TM Forum

Special thanks to Enrico Ronco, Telecom Italia Lab, whose kind and firm
leadership was a key factor in achieving the timely completion of this, and the
companion main eTOM GB921 document.

Note: Acknowledgements for development of the various versions of the core


eTOM document (GB921) are included in that document.

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eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A Page vii

About TeleManagement Forum

TeleManagement Forum is an international consortium of communications


service providers and their suppliers. Its mission is to help service providers
and network operators automate their business processes in a cost- and time-
effective way. Specifically, the work of the TM Forum includes:
Establishing operational guidance on the shape of business
processes.
Agreeing on information that needs to flow from one process
activity to another.
Identifying a realistic systems environment to support the
interconnection of operational support systems.
Enabling the development of a market and real products for
integrating and automating telecom operations processes.
The members of TM Forum include service providers, network operators and
suppliers of equipment and software to the communications industry. With that
combination of buyers and suppliers of operational support systems, TM
Forum is able to achieve results in a pragmatic way that leads to product
offerings (from member companies) as well as paper specifications.

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eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A Page ix

About this document

This is a TM Forum Guidebook. The guidebook format is used, for example,


when the document lays out a core part of TM Forums approach to
automating business processes.

Important Note:
Despite the extent of the effort involved in producing this document, it should not be considered
as complete. The focus of this release is to provide a view of detailed process decompositions
and process flows in selected areas of the Business Process Framework (also known as the
eTOM Model). This work will be developed further in the future, and additional selected areas of
the Business Process Framework will be addressed and described in a similar fashion to those
included here. The driving consideration is to focus on areas of high priority within the industry,
where the benefits of clearer definition and agreement on business processes can facilitate
planning and development within Service Provides and other enterprises, and can act as a
basis for the realization of automated interworking between enterprises.
Despite the evolutionary nature of the eTOM work, it is already in use by Service Providers.
Significant process work will continue to develop this further, with significant input from TM
Forum members to direct the eTOM work so that they obtain the most from subsequent eTOM
releases.

Document Life Cycle

The eTOM: The Business Process Framework For The Information and
Communications Services Industry Addendum A is being issued as a Release
1.0 for Member Evaluation with a Guidebook Number of 921a. The
TeleManagement Forum ("TM Forum") expects to continue to build the eTOM
based on:
Further research and alignment with other cross-industry
process work
Significant member comments and input
Joint work with other TM Forum teams, including the System
Team and the Shared Information and Data Team
Additional work to provide additional process decompositions
and flows
The eTOM is a significant undertaking for members. It is crucial that ongoing
feedback is garnered. The eTOM is being driven and used by a significant
number of worldwide service providers. They expect this release, and future

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Page x eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A

releases for eTOM to encourage contribution and participation in eTOM


development by more service providers.

All documents approved by the TM Forum (as well as those previously


approved by NMF) undergo a formal review and approval process. The TM
Forum Strategy Management Team, chaired by the President of TM Forum,
approved this document for release as a Member Evaluation Version.

This document will continue under change control. A document of this type is
a living document, capturing and communicating current knowledge, views
and practices. Further updates will be made because of detailed work
ongoing in the TM Forum and the industry.

Individuals or companies who are not members of the TM Forum are


encouraged to provide comments on this document. However, in order for their
comments to be considered, a signed waiver must be on file with TM Forum
pertaining to intellectual property rights. To obtain this form, please contact the
TM Forum.

Time Stamp

This version of the eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A can be


considered valid until it is updated or replaced.

How to obtain a copy

An electronic copy of the eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A


Member Evaluation Version 1.0 can be downloaded at the TM Forum Web
Site (http://www.tmforum.org). If anyone would like a paper version of this
document, please order via the TM Forum Web Site or contact the TM Forum
office, +1 973 425-1900.

How to comment on the document

Comments must be in written form and addressed to the contacts below for
review with the project team. Please send your comments and input to:
Enrico Ronco, Telecom Italia Lab
Team Lead of eTOM Team
Enrico.Ronco@tilab.com

Mike Kelly, eTOM Support Manager


mkelly@tmforum.org

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eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A Page xi

Be specific. Consider that you might be on a team trying to produce a single text through
the process of evaluating numerous comments. We appreciate significant specific input.
We are looking for more input than word-smith items, however editing and structural
help are greatly appreciated where better clarity is the result.

Document History

Version Date Purpose


eTOM 5/02 Evaluation Version released to TM Forum
Addendum A Membership for comment
Evaluation
Version 1.0

Summary of Changes in this Version

This version of the eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A is an


initial release.

Expectations for Future Additions

The eTOM Business Process Framework (eTOM) is a living document and


there are high member expectations for continued development of it. eTOM
will be updated and released with further detail during 2002 and beyond. The
updates and additions to the eTOM will include:
Continued, significant input, comments and issues from TM
Forum membership.
Linkage to other process work being done in the industry.
Linkage to the TM Forum NGOSS work, particularly that in the
area of the System Team and Shared Information and Data
Team.
Input and process work through implementation experience of
TM Forum teams, especially the Catalyst projects.
Continued work to develop further the process decompositions
Increasing emphasis of use of the eTOM Business Process
Framework as a tool in analyzing process flows, and their
linkage with real-world OSS operation

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Page xii eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A

Document Template

Not applicable

Use of Fonts

Very few font or style uses are applied in this document. The two keys font
applications used are:
Italics and/or bold are used for emphasis.

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eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A Page xiii

References

Related or Source Documents

The major related document is the core eTOM document (GB921). This
document forms an Addendum to the core eTOM document, extending and
refining the material there in the areas addressed.

The following Reference List provides information on this document and other
documents and books that have contributed to the development of the
TeleManagement Forum eTOM Business Process Framework.

Reference List

1. eTOM: The Business Process Framework For The Information and Communications Services
Industry, GB921, Release 3.0, May 2002.

2. Telecom Operations Map, TMF, GB910, Evaluation Version 2.1

3. ITU-T TMN Recommendation M.3400 (TMN Management Functions, ITU-T, 4/97), M.3010
(Principles for a telecommunication management network, ITU-T), M.3200 (TMN Management
Services, ITU-T, 1996) and Related Recommendations

4. GR-2869-CORE, Telcordia Technologies Generic Requirements for Operations Based


Telecommunications Management Network (TMN) Architecture

5. NGOSS: Development and Integration Methodology, TMF, TR 127

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eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A Page xv

Table of Contents

NOTICE ................................................................................................................................................................III

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................................................... V
ENHANCED TELECOM OPERATIONS MAP (ETOM) THE BUSINESS PROCESS FRAMEWORK ADDENDUM A RELEASE
1.0 CONTRIBUTORS ............................................................................................................................................... V
ABOUT TELEMANAGEMENT FORUM ....................................................................................................... VII

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT ............................................................................................................................... IX


DOCUMENT LIFE CYCLE ....................................................................................................................................... IX
TIME STAMP .......................................................................................................................................................... X
HOW TO OBTAIN A COPY ........................................................................................................................................ X
HOW TO COMMENT ON THE DOCUMENT.................................................................................................................. X
DOCUMENT HISTORY ........................................................................................................................................... XI
SUMMARY OF CHANGES IN THIS VERSION ............................................................................................................. XI
EXPECTATIONS FOR FUTURE ADDITIONS ............................................................................................................... XI
DOCUMENT TEMPLATE ........................................................................................................................................ XII
USE OF FONTS ..................................................................................................................................................... XII
REFERENCES .................................................................................................................................................. XIII
RELATED OR SOURCE DOCUMENTS ..................................................................................................................... XIII
REFERENCE LIST ................................................................................................................................................ XIII
TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................................................... XV

TABLE OF FIGURES AND TABLES .......................................................................................................... XVIII

PREFACE ............................................................................................................................................................. 21
RELATIONSHIP TO STANDARDIZATION ACTIVITIES ............................................................................................... 21
THE TM FORUM APPROACH: NGOSS .................................................................................................................. 21
ETOM BUSINESS PROCESS FRAMEWORK ............................................................................................................. 22

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................... 23


USING THIS DOCUMENT ...................................................................................................................................... 23
INTENDED AUDIENCE .......................................................................................................................................... 24
METHODOLOGY FOR PROCESS ANALYSIS ............................................................................................................. 25
CHAPTER 2 - FULFILLMENT .......................................................................................................................... 27
OVERVIEW .......................................................................................................................................................... 27
FULFILLMENT END-TO-END FLOWS ..................................................................................................................... 28
Assumptions .................................................................................................................................................... 28
Context of Fulfillment within the eTOM Framework ....................................................................................... 28
Fulfillment Level 2 Flows ................................................................................................................................ 29
FULFILLMENT LEVEL 3 FLOWS ............................................................................................................................ 32
Order Handling .............................................................................................................................................. 32
Selling............................................................................................................................................................. 33

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Service Configuration & Activation ................................................................................................................ 33


Customer Interface Management .................................................................................................................... 35
CHAPTER 3 - CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT AND BILLING ........................................ 36
OVERVIEW .......................................................................................................................................................... 36
SELLING LEVEL 3 PROCESSES .............................................................................................................................. 37
Prospect Management .................................................................................................................................... 38
Customer Qualification and Education ........................................................................................................... 39
Sales Negotiation ............................................................................................................................................ 40
Customer Data Acquisition ............................................................................................................................. 41
Cross/Up Selling............................................................................................................................................. 41
BILLING & COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT - LEVEL 3 PROCESSES .......................................................................... 42
Customer Bill Inquiries Management.............................................................................................................. 43
Pricing, Discounting & Rebate Application .................................................................................................... 44
Bill Creation & Delivery................................................................................................................................. 46
Customer Billing Management ....................................................................................................................... 48
Collection Management .................................................................................................................................. 49
BILLING END-TO-END FLOWS ............................................................................................................................. 50
Context of Billing within the eTOM Framework .............................................................................................. 51
Billing Level 2 Flows ...................................................................................................................................... 51
CHAPTER 4 - SERVICE MANAGEMENT AND ASSURANCE ..................................................................... 54
OVERVIEW .......................................................................................................................................................... 54
SERVICE PROBLEM MANAGEMENT LEVEL 3 PROCESSES ...................................................................................... 55
Evaluation & Qualification............................................................................................................................. 58
Diagnosis ....................................................................................................................................................... 58
Resolution Planning and Assignment .............................................................................................................. 58
Resolution Tracking........................................................................................................................................ 58
Closing and Reporting .................................................................................................................................... 58
SERVICE PROBLEM MANAGEMENT LEVEL 3 PROCESS FLOWS .............................................................................. 59
SERVICE QUALITY ANALYSIS, ACTION & REPORTING LEVEL 3 PROCESSES .......................................................... 61
SERVICE QUALITY MONITORING............................................................................................................... 64
USAGE & COST DATA MONITORING ......................................................................................................... 64
SERVICE QUALITY ANALYSIS...................................................................................................................... 65
SERVICE COST ANALYSIS ............................................................................................................................ 65
SERVICE IMPROVEMENT ............................................................................................................................ 65
SERVICE CONSTRAINT IDENTIFICATION & REPORTING ........................................................................ 65
SERVICE QUALITY ANALYSIS, ACTION AND REPORTING LEVEL 3 PROCESS FLOWS .............................................. 65
ASSURANCE END-TO-END FLOWS ....................................................................................................................... 66
CHAPTER 5 - RESOURCE MANAGEMENT .................................................................................................. 70
OVERVIEW .......................................................................................................................................................... 70
WHAT ARE RESOURCES ....................................................................................................................................... 72
Resource Classifications ................................................................................................................................. 74
Integration across Application, Computing and Network components ............................................................. 75
RESOURCES AND THE EBUSINESS ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................................. 75
RESOURCES AND NGOSS .................................................................................................................................... 76
System View Aspects ....................................................................................................................................... 76
Shared Information and Data Model Aspects .................................................................................................. 77
RESOURCES AND TMN ........................................................................................................................................ 77
Terminology ................................................................................................................................................... 77
PRODUCT, SERVICE AND RESOURCE .................................................................................................................... 77
RESOURCES AND SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS .................................................................................................. 78
EXAMPLE PRODUCT ............................................................................................................................................ 79
Product Definition .......................................................................................................................................... 80
Reference Architecture ................................................................................................................................... 80

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Product/Service/Resource Relationship ........................................................................................................... 81


Business Context Model .................................................................................................................................. 83
Resource Ownership ....................................................................................................................................... 83
RM&O PROCESS DECOMPOSITIONS ..................................................................................................................... 83
RELATED STANDARDS ......................................................................................................................................... 83
TMN ............................................................................................................................................................... 83
ITIL ................................................................................................................................................................ 84
OSA/PARLAY ................................................................................................................................................. 84
PAM Forum .................................................................................................................................................... 85
3GPP .............................................................................................................................................................. 85

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Table of Figures and Tables

Figure 2.1: eTOM Business Process FrameworkLevel 1 Processes ........................................... 27

Figure 2.2: Fulfillment within the eTOM Framework ........................................................................ 29

Figure 2.3: Fulfillment Process Flows at Level 2 ............................................................................. 30

Figure 2.4: Detailed View of Fulfillment Process Flows at Level 2 ................................................. 31

Figure 2.5: Order Handling Process Flows at Level 3 ..................................................................... 32

Figure 2.6: Selling Process Flows at Level 3 ................................................................................... 33


Figure 2.7: Service Configuration & Activation Process Flows at Level 3 ..................................... 34

Figure 2.8: Service Configuration & Activation Design Solution Process Flows ........................ 34

Figure 2.9: Customer Interface Management Process Flows at Level 3 ......................................... 35

Figure 3.1: eTOM Business Process FrameworkLevel 1 Processes ........................................... 36

Figure 3.2: Customer Relationship Management Level 2 Processes ............................................. 37

Figure 3.3: Selling - Level 3 (and candidate Level 4) Processes .................................................... 38

Figure 3.4: Billing & Collections Management - Level 3 (and candidate Level 4) Processes ....... 43

Figure 3.5: eTOM Business Process FrameworkLevel 1 Processes ........................................... 50

Figure 3.6: Billing within the eTOM Framework ............................................................................... 51

Figure 3.7: Billing Process Flows at Level 2 .................................................................................... 52

Figure 3.8: Billing & Collections Management Process Flows at Level 2/3 .................................... 53

Figure 4.1: eTOM Business Process FrameworkLevel 1 Processes ........................................... 54

Figure 4.2: Service Management & Operations Level 2 Processes ................................................ 55

Figure 4.3: Service Problem Management - Level 3 (and candidate Level 4) Processes .............. 57

Figure 4.4: Service Problem Management - Level 3 Process Flows .............................................. 59

Figure 4.5: Service Quality Analysis, Action and Reporting - Level 3 (and candidate Level 4)
Processes................................................................................................................................... 64

Figure 4.6: Service Quality Analysis, Action and Reporting - Level 3 Process Flows .................. 66

Figure 4.7: eTOM Business Process FrameworkLevel 1 Processes ........................................... 67

Figure 4.8: Detailed View of Assurance Process Flows at Level 2 (source: customer
complaint) .................................................................................................................................. 68

Figure 4.9: Detailed View of Assurance Process Flows at Level 2 (source: alarm fault) ............... 69

Figure 4.10: Detailed View of Assurance Process Flows at Level 2 (source: statistics and
CDR) ........................................................................................................................................... 69

Figure 5.1: eTOM Business Process FrameworkLevel 1 Processes ........................................... 70

Figure 5.2: Resource Management & Operations Level 2 Processes ............................................. 72

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eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A Page xix

Figure 5.3: Resource Development & Management Level 2 Processes ......................................... 72

Figure 5.4: System View Management Domains ............................................................................. 76

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eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A Page 21

Preface

Relationship to Standardization
Activities

Much of the management infrastructures upon which systems will be built are
expected to be based on standard interfaces. Relating business needs to
available, or necessary standards is a primary goal of the TM Forum in
promoting a standards-based approach to information and communications
services management. Where applicable, the TM Forum uses industry
standards in its work to promote the acceptance of standards and to minimize
redundant work. People active in management standardization (in the
broadest sense) will find the eTOM useful in setting a top down, enterprise-
level, customer-centric context of how management specifications need to
work together.

TM Forum uses existing standards as much as possible. As a result of


implementation experience through Catalyst projects, TM Forum provides
feedback to appropriate standards bodies.

The TM Forum Approach: NGOSS

TM Forum uses a business and customer services driven approach to


achieving end-to-end process automation using integrated Commercial Off-
the-Shelf (COTS) software. It enables product availability, together with
development specifications required to produce management systems that
can work together to produce the operational results needed by service
providers and network operators. TM Forum makes use of international and
regional standards when available, and provides input to standards bodies
whenever new technical work is done.

The TM Forum focus is on providing pragmatic solutions to business


problems. Its technical programs, particularly the NGOSS program, approach
process automation from both a business context and a systems context.
Further information on NGOSS can be found in the core eTOM document
(GB921).

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eTOM Business Process Framework

The eTOM Business Process Framework (GB921) serves as the blueprint for
process direction and the starting point for development and integration of
Business and Operations Support Systems (BSS and OSS respectively) and,
helps to drive TM Forum members work to develop NGOSS solutions. For
service providers, it provides a neutral reference point as they consider
internal process reengineering needs, partnerships, alliances, and general
working agreements with other providers. For suppliers, the eTOM
Framework outlines potential boundaries of software components, and the
required functions, inputs, and outputs that must be supported by products.
This document consists of:
A description of the role of the eTOM Business Process
Framework
The ebusiness context of service providers and the more
complex Business Relationship Context Model required
A high-level business process framework and explanation
Service Provider enterprise processes and sub-processes
that are top down, customer-centric, and end-to-end focused.
With this evolution from TOM, the eTOM Business
Process Framework now is a total enterprise
framework for Service Providers
Process Decompositions of all processes from the highest
conceptual view of the framework to the working level of the
eTOM and many selected lower level decompositions in the
Framework
Selected process flows and descriptions of the decomposed
processes that include the process purpose or description,
business rules, high level information and more. For the
remainder of 2001 and 2002, more decompositions and flows
will be developed with the objective for eTOM to develop all
critical process decompositions and process flows in 2002.
How the process framework can be put to use.
Several Annexes and Appendices, including terminology and
glossary, and related guidelines and standards.

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Chapter 1 Introduction

This document is an Addendum to the core eTOM document (GB921), and


consequently should be read in conjunction with that document. Throughout
this document, the reader is assumed to be familiar with the structure and
content of the eTOM Process Business Framework, so that the process
decompositions, descriptions, flows, etc described here, must be understood
in the context of the core eTOM document and model.

In this document, several selected areas of the eTOM Business Process


Framework are developed and refined beyond the level of detail shown in the
core eTOM document. Those addressed at this stage are:
Customer Relationship Management
Service Management
Resource Management
Fulfillment
Assurance
Billing

In addition an activity has been analyzing the handling of relationships with


suppliers, and particularly of partners, under the Supplier/Partner Relationship
Management area. This work is still underway and will be included in a later
version of this material.

The purpose of the Business Process Framework, including objectives, are


discussed in the core eTOM document (GB921).

The eTOM document (GB921) also provides the definition of common terms
concerning enterprise processes, sub-processes and the activities performed
within each. Common terminology makes it easier for service providers to
negotiate with customers, third party suppliers, and other service providers.

Using This Document

A service providers specific process architecture and organization structure


are highly specific and critical aspects of a providers competitiveness. The
eTOM provides a common view of service provider enterprise processes that
can easily translate to an individual providers internal approaches. The
document is not intended to be prescriptive about how the tasks are carried

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out, how a provider or operator is organized, or how the tasks are identified in
any one organization.

The eTOM is expected to be the starting point of detailed work that leads to
an integrated set of specifications that will provide real benefit to both
suppliers and procurers in enhancing industry service provider enterprise
management capability. This document is not a specification. It is a
snapshot of industry views expected to continue to evolve based on changes
in the industry. It is not intended to be too detailed, more a directional
statement for the industry.

One of the strengths of the eTOM is that it can be adopted at a high level, at
lower levels or even modularly depending upon a service providers needs.
The eTOM can also act as a translator by allowing a service provider to map
their distinct processes to the industry framework. As the process examples
are developed, service providers can use and adapt these examples to their
business environment.

Intended Audience

The Telecom Operations Map, and now the eTOM, aims at a wide audience
of professionals in the Information and Communications Services Industry.
For experienced Telecommunications professionals, the TOM and the eTOM
prove to be intuitive; a strong, common framework of service provider
enterprise processes. Through TM Forum Catalyst projects and other work, it
has been verified that the TOM framework has strong application for IP
Services and Mobile/Wireless Services. This applicability will only be
enhanced by the eTOM.

The eTOM is aimed at service provider and network operator decision


makers who need to know and input to the common business process
framework used to enable enterprise automation in a cost efficient way. It is
also an important framework for specialists across the industry working on
business and operations automation. The document or framework supports,
and is consistent with, many efforts under way in the industry supporting the
need to accelerate business and operations automation in the information
and communications services marketplace.

The eTOM will continue to give providers and suppliers a common framework
for discussing complex business needs in a complex industry with complex
technologies. For both service providers and network operators additional
complexities arise from:
Moving away from developing their own business and
operations systems software, to a more procurement and
systems integration approach.
New business relationships between service providers and
network operators

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eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A Page 25

The creation of new business relationships and the move away from
developing internally are a reaction to market forces. These market forces
require service providers and network operators to increase the range of
services they offer, reduce time to market for new services, increase speed of
service, as well as to drive down systems and operational costs.

The eTOM is also aimed at service provider and network operator employees
involved in business process re-engineering, operations, procurement and
other activities for:
Understanding the common business process framework
being used to drive integration and automation
Getting involved in providing processes, inputs, priorities and
requirements
The eTOM Business Process Framework is also aimed at designers and
integrators of business and operational management systems software and
equipment suppliers. They can benefit from understanding how management
processes and applications need to work together to deliver business benefit
to service providers and network operators.

An equally important and related audience is suppliers of management


applications, management systems, and networking equipment, who need to
understand the deployment environment for their products and solutions.

The eTOM Business Process Framework provides a common framework


useful in supporting the significant amount of merger and acquisition activity.
Common process understanding and a common process framework can
greatly improve integration performance for mergers and acquisitions. eTOM
is applicable for an established service provider or a new entrant, green field
provider. It is important to note that not all processes defined in the eTOM
are used by all providers. As mentioned earlier, the framework is flexible, so
that the processes the specific service providers require can be selected on a
modular basis and at the appropriate level of detail for their needs.

Methodology for Process Analysis

In carrying out the work documented here, it proved advantageous to evolve further the
methodology for process analysis described in the core eTOM document (GB921) and to extend
this to address the handling of process decompositions and process flows at the lower level of detail
addressed.

To avoid repetition, the methodology is illustrated using the work on Fulfillment (see 0) and
reference is made below to this Chapter.

This methodology involved the following steps:


STEP 1 (see Figure 2.2) - Map the Process Interactions
between the Level 2 Process Elements by overlaying double-

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ended arrows onto the eTOM Diagram to show where there


will be interactions between Level 2 Process Elements.
Visually overlaying Processes onto the eTOM Process
Elements sends the clear message that Processes should be
created by assembling eTOM Process Elements.
STEP 2 (see Figure 2.3) - Use the Level 2 Process
Interactions to document the process flows between the Level
2 Process Elements. This should be shown on a diagram
which retains the same general arrangement and appearance
of eTOM Level 2 Process Elements, but re-arranges them to
suit the process being documented. Note that the names of
Level 2 Process Elements must remain the same as in
eTOM.
STEP 3 (see Figure 2.4) - Start to expand the flow detail by
expanding Level 2s into implied Level 3s by replicating the
processes at the flow sequence points required.
STEP 4 (see Figure 2.5, etc) - Use the process flows
between the Level 2 Process Elements to segment the work
of documenting Level 3 Process Flows.
STEP 5 In addition, where the focus is on a specific Level 2
process and its decomposition into Level 3 processes, it can
be helpful to depict flow interactions around this particular
Level 2. An example of this is shown for Assurance (see
Figure 4.4). This shows all interactions to other Level 2s and
all Level 3s within this Level 2 under study.

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eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A Page 27

Chapter 2 - Fulfillment

Overview

Fulfillment forms a Level 1 process within the eTOM Operations Level 0


process grouping (see Figure 2.1, and GB921 for further details)

Figure 2.1: eTOM Business Process FrameworkLevel 1 Processes

Within the work program on Fulfillment, attention concentrated on developing


a view of the end-to-end process flows that link the processes involved in the
fulfillment activity. This provides additional insight into the operation of the
processes concerned, and also explains the dynamic behavior of the
processes in terms of event associations, information transfer and the
sequencing of process steps involved in the overall procedures.

The goal of this analysis is to document process flows at Level 3 (and


eventually below), but in examining this area it is useful to show higher-level
interactions as an aid to understanding the context of the process

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relationships. This work therefore follows the overall methodology described


previously (see Methodology for Process Analysis).

The focus is on Fulfillment for a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) service, so as


to allow a realistic scenario to be used in developing the flows concerned.
However, it is intended that the work has general application, not just in the
context of this service, and consequently care has been taken not to make
the flows service-specific.

Cases where resources are provided form within the service providers own
domain, as well as where suppliers and partners are involved in this, have
been taken into account.

Fulfillment End-to-End Flows

Assumptions

The Fulfillment process to be documented here is only one scenario out of


many thousands of possible ways of delivering a Fulfillment process.

To scope what we are to document - a typical generic Fulfillment Process,


here are the assumptions used
There is limited pre-provisioning of infrastructure to end-users
(more typical of HDSL than ADSL ?).
Part of the resource needed will be provided internally and
part externally using Supplier-Partner processes e.g. ISP is
the retailer and is buying the Local Loop from the incumbent
carrier.
At Level 2 only the dominant process flow is shown -
exception cases (e.g. no resource available) may be detailed
in Level 3 Flows
Multiple external suppliers will be considered for external
supply of resources.
The service has moderate complexity and after negotiation
with the customer's Purchasing staff are completed, the SP's
technical contacts will interact with the Customer's
Engineering staff.

Context of Fulfillment within the eTOM Framework

The first step in documenting the end-to-end (E2E) flows is positioning the
Fulfillment flows in their context within the overall eTOM model.

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eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A Page 29

Figure 2.2 shows this context for Fulfillment. As would be expected, the
majority of the high-level process linkages are within the Level 1 Fulfillment
process grouping, but a number of significant interactions are identified
outside of this vertical process area.

Figure 2.2: Fulfillment within the eTOM Framework

Fulfillment Level 2 Flows

Further insight is developed through a more detailed illustration of the process


interactions among the major Level 2 processes involved. This is shown in
Figure 2.3.

Here the Level 2 processes are shown with relative positioning similar to that
in the eTOM framework, to assist understanding and to make the diagram
more intuitive.

Start points for the Fulfillment process are shown, and the interconnecting
arrows indicate events or information linking the Level 2 processes. These
interactions are developed further within the individual Level 3 flows (below)
that show how the internal Level 3 structure of each Level 3 process supports
the flows.

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Figure 2.3: Fulfillment Process Flows at Level 2

This view can be developed further to indicate sequencing, and to imply


involvement by different Level 3 processes within the indicated Level 2
process as shown in Figure 2.4. Here, a given Level 2 process may be shown
several times, to allow the sequencing of its involvement in the flow to be
more clearly seen. Typically, different functionality is involved at each point for
a given Level 2 process, so this is a step towards identification of the specific
Level 3 process or processes, within the Level 2 process which will support
the interactions.

Note that this diagram is derived from the model developed for this E2E flow
within the process modeling tool.

GB921a v1.0 TeleManagement Forum 2002


TeleManagement Forum 2002
Customer Customer
Customer Places Order
Contacts
Retailer

Customer Interface Management Customer Interface Customer Interface Customer Interface


Management Management Management
Service
Customer Details for
Relationship
Retrieve Update Customer Request Billing
Management Sales enquiry Customer Contact History Detailed Customer Billing &
routed to Selling Profile Customer Confirmation Accepts Collections
group places order by Engineering Design Management
Retention &
eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A

Offer Sales
Loyalty
Customer Proposal Order Handling
Marketing
Solution offer to Order Handling
Fulfillment Order Handling Order Handling
Alternatives Customer PreOrder
Response Order Handling
to Order Order
Handling Selling Customer
Handling Customer Order to Order Handling Service Details
Selling QoS/SLA
for Assurance
Management
Pre Order result Design & Implement Design Internal End-to-End
Design&Technology Technology Work Service Test
Selection Request Selection Request Detail Design Order Completed
Service
Management Service Configuration & Activation Service Service Service Configuration & Service
Detailed Design
& Operations Service Configuration & Configuration & Configuration & Activation Configuration &
Activation Detailed Design Activation Activation Activation

Request Resource Confirm Resource Confirm Internal Internal


Resource Resource Confirm Resource Activation Resource Work Resource
External Availability Resource
Management Reservation Reservation Request Activation Order Provisioning
Optional Supplier Request Availability
& Operations Request Completed
Selection Resource
Flow Provisioning
& Allocation to Sv Resource
Resource Provisioning Provisioning & Resource Resource External Resource
& Allocation to Sv Allocation to Sv Provisioning & Provisioning &
Provisioning
Allocation to Sv Allocation to Sv Completed
Check External
Supplier Solution
Supplier/
Supplier/Partner Order from External Supplier Supplier/Partner
Partner Supplier/Partner Supplier/Partner
Relationship Buying Buying Purchase Order Purchase Order
Management Management Management

Enterprise
Management

Figure 2.4: Detailed View of Fulfillment Process Flows at Level 2

GB921a v1.0
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Page 32 eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A

Fulfillment Level 3 Flows

Based on the E2E flows shown above, more detailed flows have been
developed for each of the Level 2 processes to illustrate the role of each of
their constituent Level 3 processes in supporting these flows.

The Level 2 process flows captured in this way include:


Order Handling
Selling
Service Configuration & Activation
Customer Interface Management

Order Handling

Level 3 flows for Order Handling within the overall E2E Fulfillment process
are shown in Figure 2.5.

Figure 2.5: Order Handling Process Flows at Level 3

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Selling

Level 3 flows for Selling within the overall E2E Fulfillment process are shown
in Figure 2.6.

Figure 2.6: Selling Process Flows at Level 3

Service Configuration & Activation

Level 3 flows for Service Configuration & Activation within the overall E2E
Fulfillment process are shown in Figure 2.7. Additionally, a further breakdown
within the Design Solution Level 3 process is shown in Figure 2.8 for
information.

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Figure 2.7: Service Configuration & Activation Process Flows at Level 3

Figure 2.8: Service Configuration & Activation Design Solution Process Flows

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Customer Interface Management

Level 3 flows for Customer Interface Management within the overall E2E
Fulfillment process are shown in .

Figure 2.9: Customer Interface Management Process Flows at Level 3

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Chapter 3 - Customer Relationship Management and


Billing

Overview

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) forms a Level 1 process within


the eTOM Operations Level 0 process grouping (see Figure 3.1, and GB921
for further details)

Figure 3.1: eTOM Business Process FrameworkLevel 1 Processes

Within the work program on CRM, attention concentrated on decomposition


of some of the level 2 processes, and on process flows concerning these.

The chosen areas for analysis are:


Selling: decomposition of CRM level 2 process to level 3
Billing & Collections Management: decomposition of CRM
level 2 process to level 3

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Billing & Collections Management: definition of flows and


linkages between level 3 processes
Billing: definition of flows and linkages to provide an End-to-
End view to aid understanding of how these processes can
be used
Figure 3.2 shows the CRM Level 2 processes to provide context for this work.

Customer
Relationship
Management

CRM Operations Marketing Selling Problem Handling Customer


Support & Process Fulfillment QoS/SLA
Management Response Management

Sales & Channel CRM Operations Retention & Order Handling Customer Interface Billing &
Management Readiness Loyalty Management Collections
Management

TeleManagement Forum October, 2001

Figure 3.2: Customer Relationship Management Level 2 Processes

Selling Level 3 Processes

The Selling process is a Level 2 process within the Customer Relationship


Management Level 1 functional process grouping.

This process [maximizes revenue via] by obtaining new customers and


upselling and cross-selling to existing customers. Contacts are transformed
into qualified leads, which are tracked as prospects, then opportunities, and
ultimately customers. The value of the sales pipeline is projected in terms of
the probability of closing the sale and its potential revenue at each stage in
the sales cycle. After a customer needs analysis is completed, product
availability is assessed before proposing a solution. Each sales opportunity is
matched against the product portfolio and those solutions that best fit the
customers requirements are proposed as alternatives. The sale is closed
with the customer selecting the solution that best addresses his/her needs.
This process is also responsible for the identification of opportunities for the
sale of new or enhanced products to existing customers. Optimally, every
contact with a customer is utilized as an opportunity to further capture
customer information / refine the customers needs assessment so that timely
offering of appropriate products may be done.

The Selling process is decomposed into a set of Level 3 processes, shown in


Figure 3.3. This figure also shows candidate Level 4 processes below each of
the Level 3 processes. These are under study.

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Se llin g

Pro sp e ct C u sto m e r Sa le s Ne g o tia tio n C u sto m e r D a ta C ro ss / Up Se llin g


M anagement Q u a lifica tio n a n d Acq u isitio n
Ed u ca tio n

Pro sp e ct Ne e d s Un d e rsta n d So lu tio n C u sto m e r Id e n tity Up & C ro ss Sa le


An a lysis C u sto m e r Ne e d D e te rm in a tio n W ith C a p tu re O p p o rtu n itie s
th e C u sto m e r Id e n tifica

Po te n tia l So lu tio n s Q u a lify C u sto m e r Sa le s Pro p o sa l R e la tio n sh ip Up & C ro ss Sa le


Id e n tifica tio n D e ve lo p m e n t Esta b lish m e n t Pa cka g e s
Ap p lica tio n

Tra ck a n d R e p o rt D e ve lo p So lu tio n So lu tio n D e ta ils C u sto m e r Pro file


Pro sp e ct R e su lt Alte rn a tive s Ne g o tia tio n C a p tu re a n d
R e co rd

C u sto m ize Sa le s C lo su re C u sto m e r


So lu tio n s to Pre fe re n ce s
C u sto m e r C a p tu re a n d
R e q u ire m R e co rd

C o n firm So lu tio n
Ava ila b ility

Pro d u ct
D e ve lo p m e n t
In q u iry

Figure 3.3: Selling - Level 3 (and candidate Level 4) Processes

The Selling Level 3 processes are described below (working descriptions for
the candidate Level 4 processes are also included to provide additional
context for the Level 3 processes, but note that these are under study)

Prospect Management

The purpose of this process is to match identified leads with the most
appropriate products and ensure that these prospects are handled
appropriately. These prospects represent a pipeline of potential sales, each
of which is expressed in terms of the probability of successful sales closure
and an estimate of the total attainable revenue. The needs of each potential
prospect are analysed. Based on these needs, potential solutions are
identified from the service providers product portfolio. Each prospect is
tracked through these processes and the outcome (win or loss) of the each
prospect is reported. Prospects are assigned to the appropriate sales
channel.

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Prospect Needs Analysis


The needs of each prospective customer are analysed with regard to the
services required. The scope of this activity depends heavily on the
complexity of the services available and the characteristics (e.g. size of
organisation) of the prospect.

Potential Solutions Identification


Based on the prospects needs, potential products are selected from the
service providers product portfolio.

Track and Report Prospect Result


Various follow up activities are required during a customers transition from
lead to customer, and the amount of attention required depends upon
such variables as potential revenue and likelihood of win. Each prospect is
tracked through these activities in order to identify any required remedial
actions, if necessary, and to aid in the projection of the size of the pipeline.
Whether or not a customer is won, the outcome of the overall sales process is
reported for improvement opportunities.

Customer Qualification and Education

The purpose of this process is to ensure that the business agreement


between the customer and service provider is based upon mutual
understanding. The customer is qualified in terms of any associated risk, and
the amount of effort required (e.g. response to a Request for Proposal [RFP]).
Alternative solutions may be developed and customized to the specific
customers requirements. The solution alternatives must be available (e.g.
capacity) or scheduled on a product roadmap.

Understand Customer Need


The needs and requirements gathered during the analysis of the prospects
needs are expanded.

Qualify Customer
Based on the probability of sales closure and the potential revenue, a
decision is made as to whether the estimated amount of work associated with
the sale (e.g. response to RFP) is deemed to be a good investment. Any risks
(e.g. credit worthiness) associated with the customer are analysed and
determination is made as to whether this will be a good customer.

Develop Solution Alternatives


Alternative solutions are developed for the customer based upon the service
providers offerings in terms of price and functionality.

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Customize Solutions to Customer Requirements


Where necessary, solutions may require tailoring to a customers specific
requirements.

Confirm Solution Availability


The capability of the service provider to deliver the various solutions is
ensured (e.g. available capacity). Resources may be reserved if necessary.
Customer should be notified of issues that can cause delay in availability.

Product Development Inquiry


If some of the customer requirements can not be met by current offerings, a
schedule of availability is prepared based on the product roadmap or
development schedules.

Sales Negotiation

The purpose of this process is to close the sale with terms that are mutually
agreeable to both the customer and the service provider. One specific
solution is selected and its details are described in a sales proposal. The sale
is concluded through negotiations of features, service levels, pricing and
discounts, resulting in a formal agreement between the customer and service
provider.

Solution Determination with Customer


The alternative solutions are presented to the customer, from which one is
selected.

Sales Proposal Development


The sales proposal is prepared detailing out the customer and service
providers responsibilities in terms of features and services (e.g. training and
support) to be delivered, quality of service and pricing

Solution Details Negotiation


The sales proposal is amended as necessary based on negotiations between
the parties.

Sales Closure
The negotiations conclude with the a formal agreement between the
customer and service provider.

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Customer Data Acquisition

The purpose of this process is to record all pertinent customer data.

Customer Identity Capture (or Capture Customer Details and create unique identity)
Unique identifiers are created for the customer, the account structure and the
agreement structure.

Relationship Establishment
Hand off from the sales to the customer support organization is made and
representatives are assigned.

Customer Profile Capture and Record


Data about individuals, addresses and locations within the customer technical
organization is gathered.

Customer Preferences Capture and Record


The customers individual preferences (e.g. billing method, SLAs for QoS) are
captured.

Cross/Up Selling

The purpose of this process is to ensure that the value of the relationship
between the customer and service provider is maximized by selling
additional, or more of the existing, products. The ongoing analysis of
customer trends (e.g. usage, problems, complaints) is used to identify when
the current offerings may no longer be appropriate for the customer, or when
the opportunity for a larger sale arises. Based on the data collected, more
appropriate offerings should be recommended to the customer.

Up & Cross Sell Opportunities Identification


Customer trends and usage patterns are analyzed to identify where the
current customer solution may not be the most appropriate of those within the
service providers offerings.

Up & Cross Sell Packages Identification


Standard customer migration paths through the service providers offerings
are established to handle changes in customer usage patterns or new
product introduction. When a customer contact is made, more appropriate
solutions are offered.

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Billing & Collections Management -


Level 3 Processes

The Billing & Collections Management process is a Level 2 process within the
Customer Relationship Management Level 1 functional process grouping.

This process encompasses maintaining a customer's billing account, sending


invoices to customers, processing their payments and performing payment
collections; in addition it handles customer inquiries about bills, provides
billing inquiry status and is responsible for resolving billing problems to the
customer's satisfaction. It also supports the revenue management
components of the service provider's business including receivables
management, treatment, revenue reconciliation, tax management and
providing input into the settlement process. The purpose of this process is to
ensure that the customer's invoice is an appropriate representation of its
relationship to the service provider, that all billing discrepancies are resolved
to the customer's satisfaction and that the billing operations accurately reflect
the business operations of the service provider.

The Billing & Collections Management process is decomposed into a set of


Level 3 processes, shown in Figure 3.4. This figure also shows candidate
Level 4 processes below each of the Level 3 processes. These are under
study.

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eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A Page 43

B IL L IN G &
C O L L E C T IO N S
M A N AG EM EN T

C US T O M E R
P R IC IN G & B IL L C US T O M E R
B IL L C O L L E CT IO N S
D IS C O U N T IN G C R E A T IO N B IL LIN G
IN Q U IR IE S M A N A GE M E N T
A PP L IC A T IO N & DE L IV E RY M A N A G E M E NT
M A N A G E M E NT

A p p ly p r icin g of M a n a g e Cu sto m e r
D e s ign & U p da te R e c eiv e & A p p ly
F u lfill B ill In q u ir ie s in d ivid u al A cco u nt
B illin g P r e s e nta tio n P a ym e n ts
ev e n ts
A n a lys e & M a n a g em e n t of
A p p ly s u m m a ry P ro d uc e C u s to m e r
d o cu m e n t s er vic es fo r M a na g e De p o sits
c harge s B ill(s)
b illin g issu e s a c c ur ate b illin g
V e r ify & R e v ie w G a th er b illin g d a ta
R e so lv e B illing A p p ly C u s to m e r F r a ud
C us to m er fo r
Iss u e s D isc ou n ts id e ntifica tio n
Inv o ice Q ua lity C re d it A s se ssm e n t

A p p ly R e b a te s C u s to m e r b ill T r e a t & C o lle ct


& Cr e d its d is trib u tio n O ve r d u e Ac co u n ts

A pp ly T ax e s C u sto m e r fr a ud
& Su rch a rg e s & cr e d it ab u se

Info r m
g e n e r a l le d g er

Figure 3.4: Billing & Collections Management - Level 3 (and candidate Level 4)
Processes

The Billing & Collections Management Level 3 processes are described


below (working descriptions for the candidate Level 4 processes are also
included to provide additional context for the Level 3 processes, but note that
these are under study)

Customer Bill Inquiries Management

The objective of this process is to ensure the timely and effective fulfillment of
all customer bill inquiries and the resolution of customer / Service Provider
billing issues. This process is responsible for managing customer interaction
as it relates to a customer's billing relationship to a Service Provider. This
includes fulfilling inquiries against the customer's billing account(s), handling
disputes from the customer with regards to its billing records and resolving
billing disputes between the customer and Service Provider. This process
can be view via traditional means, with a service representative managing the
customer or via e-business means. In the latter case, inquiries, issues and
communication of resolution would be handled via electronic media without
the intervention of a representative.

Candidate Level 4 processes within this Level 3 process are described below:

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Fulfil Billing enquiries


This process is responsible for handling an inquiry for a customer on its billing
information and providing the required information for the customer's inquiry.
This process receives a request for billing information from the Customer
Interface Management process. It retrieves appropriate customer billing
information based upon the inquiry's nature. It provides to the customer the
specific billing information requested. It will handoff any required disputes for
documentation and resolution. This process can be considered in an e-
business context where the transaction is handled completely via electronic
means. In this case, the electronic medium would present the billing
information to the customer and begin the documentation process for any
issues identified by the customer.

Analyse & document billing issues


This process is responsible for documenting billing disputes raised by the
customer. It receives a potential dispute from the Fulfill Billing enquiries
process. The process identifies the specific billing information disputed. It
verifies the customer's dispute against the Service Provider's billing records.
When the dispute concerns a billing information done on behalf of another
Service Provider (partner), the process hands off the dispute to the relevant
Partner process. The process formally documents the nature of the dispute
and notes the discrepancy. It then forwards dispute for resolution as
appropriate.

Resolve Billing Issues


This process is responsible for resolving billing disputes with a customer in a
timely and effective manner. The process receives a documented billing
issue dispute for resolution from the Analyse & Document Billing Issues
process. It identifies root cause of billing issue dispute (incorrect billing of
usage, customer misunderstanding of charges, etc). It determines required
resolution for billing dispute (credit of charge, charges sustained etc),
consistent with established business practices (refund limits, etc). It informs
the customer of resolution. It performs the required resolution for the billing
issue, as consistent w/ defined business policy. It escalates issue as
appropriate within Service Provider. Inform Frauds Identification of any
potentially fraudulent account behavior. The process also documents any
resolution, or attempted resolution, of the billing dispute

Pricing, Discounting & Rebate Application

The purpose of this process is to ensure that the customer receives an


invoice that is reflective of all the billable events delivered by the Service
Provider as per the business relationship between the customer and the
Service Provider. In addition, it ensures that the appropriable taxes, rebates
(i.e. missed customer commitments) and credits are applied to the customer's
invoice(s). This process contains the account and customer specific pricing,
charges, discounting, credits and taxation for services delivered to the

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customer by the Service Provider. It accepts events that have been


collected, translated, correlated, assembled, guided and service rated. It
takes these events and determines the account or customer specific pricing,
charges, discounts, and taxation that should be delivered to the invoice(s) for
the customer. This process can occur real-time as events are service rated,
or can be on a scheduled on a periodic basis at the Service Provider's
discretion.

Candidate Level 4 processes within this Level 3 process are described below:

Apply Pricing of individual events


This process performs the customer and account specific pricing of event
data that has been service rated. It processes the service rated events,
resolves the nature of the billable event (chargeable units) and determines
the appropriate price for that event given the business agreement between
the customer and the Service Provider.

Apply Summary Charges


This process is responsible for applying the recurring and non-recurring
charges (non-event based) to an account (installation charges, Basic Monthly
Service charges). The process retrieves the account's billing information,
determines the appropriate recurring and non-recurring charges for services
delivered in the billing period. It then posts these charges to the customer's
account to be rendered on the current invoice

Apply Customer Discounts


This process is responsible for providing summary discounts to an account
given the customer's business agreement with the Service Provider. The
process reviews the usage information for the customer's account for the
given period. The process ensures that the customer has qualified for any
tiers, thresholds or volumes required for the discounting. Customer discounts
can also be applied to an overall customer's account (rather than just usage)
such as 10% off for the first month. It then posts the appropriate discounts to
the customer's account to be rendered on the current invoice

Apply Rebates & Credits


This process is responsible for posting un-invoiced rebates and credits to a
customer's account. Examples of these transactions would be out-of-service
credits provided to the customer (e.g. where agreed upon SLA's by the
Service Provider to the Customer) have been missed, special rebates
provided to the customer, etc. The process reviews the customer's account
to determine if any un-invoiced transactions have been associated to the
customer in the current period. It then posts these transactions to the
customer's account to be rendered on the current invoice.

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Apply Taxes & Surcharges


This process is responsible for imposing the necessary taxes and surcharges
to a customer's account given the services provided to the customer for the
current billing period. The process reviews the charges and credits posted to
the account for the current period. It establishes the appropriate jurisdiction
for the charges and credits given the account's billing location, service
location and usage information. It calculates and applies the appropriate
taxes and surcharges based on that jurisdiction. The processes then posts
these line items to the customer's account to be rendered on the current
invoice.

Bill Creation & Delivery

The primary purpose of this process is the production of a timely and


accurate invoice reflective of the charges for services delivered to the
customer by the Service Provider and respective trading partners. This
process contains the invoicing components of the Service Provider's
business. This includes the design and development of the Service
Provider's invoicing process, the rendering of an invoice, the delivery of an
invoice to customers and the processes that verify invoice quality prior to
customer distribution. The flow of this process can be viewed as an
extension of the company's e-business strategy. In this case, the Service
Provider would render an invoice electronically, via the Internet for example,
and potentially trigger a payment from the customer's credit card
electronically.

Furthermore, This process provides specifications for the formatting of


invoices in different ways and to achieve different publishing possibilities and
supports the creation of different invoice formats for different publication
media.

Candidate Level 4 processes within this Level 3 process are described below:

Design & Update Billing Presentation


This process is responsible for managing the creation, updates and one-time
changes to the Service Provider's invoice format. The process creates the
initial invoice format for Service Provider's customers, based upon marketing,
etc, requirements. It updates the invoice format to support deployment of
new services, as appropriate. Finally, it manages bill run specific changes to
invoicing process (marketing messages, promotional inserts, etc.)

Produce Customer Bill(s)


This process is responsible for delivering the regular production of customer
invoices. It receives customer usage charges,, surcharges and taxes for
service rendered and products delivered during a given billing period from the
Rating and Discounting process, calculates discounts or credits in usage
charges, recurrent charges (prorate charges), non-recurring charges

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eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A Page 47

(activation quotes, installation quotes), applies adjustments, and calculates


additional discounts (to the different charges). It retrieves an account's open
balance and payment information to be included on invoice. It retrieves
customer account information, including billing address, invoice specific
information, etc. The process also determines specific billing arrangements
required by the customer's business agreement for the provider. This would
include, for example, the collation of different invoices for an account (mobile,
fixed wire, internet) into a single invoice or the managing hierarchical rules for
a customer's account structure (for example, customer receives a summary
statement and subsidiary accounts receive detailed invoice for payment).
The process formats and renders the appropriate customer bill(s).

Verify and Review Customer Invoice Quality


The goal of this process is to ensure that the invoices delivered to the
customer meet the company's quality assurance standards. The process
receives a sample of invoices from a given billing run from the Customer
Invoice Production process. It reconciles open balance, charges, credits and
payment information against independent data (finance and accounting, etc.).
The process verifies physical image and appearance of sample invoices. It
reviews the billing run's quality with stakeholders. The process then
continues to invoice distribution or rectifies quality issues, as appropriate.

Furthermore, This process focuses on monitoring the billing quality, by


sampling and holding bills and reviewing their content, verifying if they comply
with a pre determined set of rules. If they do, the bill is released and the
related bills are sent to invoice formatting, otherwise, the previous processes
will have to be repeated.

Customer bill distribution


This process is responsible for taking a rendered invoice and delivering it to
the customer via the appropriate media and method. This could include not
only a physical invoice but potentially the electronic presentment of an invoice
and its details via electronic means, the Internet for example. It receives the
rendered customer invoice, after a billing run's quality has been established
and approved. It determines the delivery media (electronic, paper, etc) and
method (email, Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), CDROM, fax, etc.)
appropriate for the customer. The process prepares invoice for distribution,
along with any accompanying material (bill inserts, etc). The process delivers
the invoice to the customer, in the case of electronic transactions, or submits
the invoice for delivery, in the case of mail transactions. Finally, it performs
any required electronic invoicing actions (i.e. Electronic Funds Transfer, credit
card, etc).

In summary, this process produces and distributes invoices, reports and


notices on the required media. Formatted invoicing information is grouped by
media to enable more efficient final production and distribution.

The usual media will be paper, however different format invoices can be
offered such as web based, e-mail based or other media.

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Customer Billing Management

The primary purpose of this process pertains to effective management of the


customer's billing account as it relates to the products purchased and
consumed throughout the appropriate billing cycle. This process focuses on
managing changes to the customer's billing account (such as change of
address, etc.) as well as managing the customer's service portfolio, such as
ensuring that the correct products are assigned to the customer's account for
accurate billing.

Candidate Level 4 processes within this Level 3 process are described below:

Manage Customer Account


This process ensures that the customer's account is an accurate reflection of
its relationship to the Service Provider. In the case of new accounts, the
process will create the appropriate billing entities for the account. Going
forward, it will process changes to a customer's billing account (billing
address changes, etc). Included within these activities is the establishment of
tax/surcharge jurisdiction. The process will confirm with the customer any
changes made to billing account information. Included within this process
would be the management of the account hierarchical structure requested by
the customer entity as well as definition of the billing entity within that
hierarchy. Any sponsored services will also be defined upon account creation
(e.g. a certain service such as e-mail may be sponsored by an employer).

Management of services for accurate billing


This process ensures that the customer's purchased services are accurately
reflected in terms of billing components. In the case of new services, the
process creates the appropriate service entities for the customer's account
that will be billed against (e.g. usage, # of hits, etc.). As it receives updates
(upgrade / addition / termination of services, promotional pricing or rebate,
etc) to the customer's services it will modify the service entities as
appropriate. The process will confirm with the customer any changes made
to the service information for the account and the service changes should be
reflected on the customer's bill.

Fraud Identification
The goal of this process is to minimize the fraudulent use of the services
provided to the customer by the company. The process accepts reports of
fraudulent service use by the customer or other service Provider processes.
It notifies the customer and appropriate authorities of the fraud and rectifies
billing information as appropriate (credit, etc).

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Collection Management

The objective of this process is to collect payments done by the customer.


Furthermore this process is meant to match these payments with the services
/ invoices delivered to this customer. This process is also meant to manage
the amount due of the customer, i.e. check whether the payments are done in
time. If not so, this might result in putting the customer on hold.

Candidate Level 4 processes within this Level 3 process are described below:

Receive and apply payments


This process is responsible for receiving and applying payments for service.
It receives payments for billed services from the customer, either from the
customer directly, through a clearinghouse (lockbox, credit card transactions,
etc) or via other electronic means (Internet bill payment). The process
determines the appropriate payment hierarchy for application based on
applicable business rules and jurisdictional law (bucketized payment
structure). The process applies the payments to appropriate outstanding
balances for customer's account.

Manage Deposits
This process is responsible for managing deposits posted to a customer's
account with the Service Provider. It receives deposits for services from
either the customer directly or through a clearinghouse. The process applies
and stores the deposits against the customer's account. It remits interest
earned, as required by business policy or regulations, to the customer's
account. Finally, it refunds the deposit, as appropriate, to the customer's
account.

Gather Billing Data for Credit Assessment


This process takes responsibility for collecting all data from billing records to
allow the management of credit scoring by Retention and Loyalty. The
process receives a request for a customer and/or account's billing
information. It retrieves the appropriate billing information for the request
(account balance, payment history, treatment history). It returns the billing
information to Retention and Loyalty to determine the credit score.

Treat & Collect Overdue Accounts


This goal of this process is to manage the collections and treatment of a
customer's open balances. It establishes the policy (treatment steps and
thresholds) required for past due accounts. On a regular basis, usually based
on the completion of a billing cycle, the process reviews aged open balances.
Based on that review, it determines accounts requiring treatment and the
stage of treatment process required. It performs the appropriate treatment
step given balance's age and past credit history. The process attempts to
collect on overdue balances in treatment. Finally, the process will hand off
accounts for suspension and/or termination, as appropriate.

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Another goal of this process is to provide other parties with information, in


order to enable these parties to collect payments from past due accounts.

Customer Fraud & Credit Abuse


This process researches the fraud report and identifies actual cases of fraud.
When appropriate, the process also performs action (e.g. notification of credit
department) or requests termination of service based upon fraud.

Inform general ledger


This process is responsible for interfacing with the general ledger. On a
regular base (weekly, monthly, quarterly) it informs the general ledger about
the amount of payments received and about the payments not to be received
(e.g. due to a customer's bankruptcy)

Billing End-to-End Flows

Billing forms a Level 1 process within the eTOM Operations Level 0 process
grouping (see Figure 3.5, and GB921 for further details)

Figure 3.5: eTOM Business Process FrameworkLevel 1 Processes

As with Fulfillment, a view has been developed of the end-to-end process


flows that link the processes involved in the billing activity. This provides
additional insight into the operation of the processes concerned, and also

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explains the dynamic behavior of the processes in terms of event


associations, information transfer and the sequencing of process steps
involved in the overall procedures.

The goal of this analysis is to document process flows at Level 3 (and


eventually below), but in examining this area it is useful to show higher-level
interactions as an aid to understanding the context of the process
relationships. This work therefore follows the overall methodology described
previously (see Methodology for Process Analysis).

Context of Billing within the eTOM Framework

Figure 3.6 shows the context of Billing within the overall eTOM. As would be
expected, the majority of the high-level process linkages are within the Level
1 Billing process grouping, but a number of significant interactions are
identified outside of this vertical process area.

Figure 3.6: Billing within the eTOM Framework

Billing Level 2 Flows

A more detailed illustration of the process interactions among the major Level
2 processes involved. is shown in Figure 3.7.

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Here the Level 2 processes are shown with relative positioning similar to that
in the eTOM framework, to assist understanding and to make the diagram
more intuitive. These interactions are developed further within the individual
Level 3 flows (below) that show how the internal Level 3 structure of each
Level 3 process supports the flows.

Figure 3.7: Billing Process Flows at Level 2

Work is ongoing to develop this further to indicate sequencing, and to imply


involvement by different Level 3 processes within the indicated Level 2
processes.

To illustrate this work, Figure 3.8 shows how the Billing & Collections
Management Level 2 process interacts with the billing environment, and
indicates the involvement of Level 3 processes in this. This area is under
study.

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CUSTOMER S/PARTNERS

Invoice
Telemanagement Report Customer Customer Customer
Collection Notice Payment Payment Invoice
Payment
Customer Information Notice Advice
Payments - Refunds/Rebates

Usage transaction - rated Billing transaction - priced


Billing transaction -
Usage transaction - invalid Billing transaction - corrected
invoiced
Ad-hoc bill request (delayed usage) Possible Customer Savings

RM&O SM&O
RM&O SM&O
Data Service & Pricing & Billing Collections
Data Service & Pricing & Billing Collections
Collection Instance Rating Discounting Management Management
Collection Instance Rating Discounting Management Management

Customer Payment Advice


Account Adjustment
Usage transaction - corrected Billing transaction - invalid Refund Information
Rebate Information
Collection Action Request - Automated
Final Bill Request
Ad-hoc Bill Request Collection
Customer Deposit Information Action
Bank Request -
Deposit Collection
Usage transactions On-demand rated information Customer Bank
Information Agency
Real-time rated information Payment Deposit

THIRD PARTY EXTERNAL COLLECTION


SERVICE BANK
AGENCY AGENCY
PROVIDER

Figure 3.8: Billing & Collections Management Process Flows at Level 2/3

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Chapter 4 - Service Management and Assurance

Overview

Service Management & Operations (SM&O) forms a Level 1 process within


the eTOM Operations Level 0 process grouping (see Figure 4.1, and GB921
for further details)

Figure 4.1: eTOM Business Process FrameworkLevel 1 Processes

Within the work program on SM&O, attention concentrated on decomposition


of some of the level 2 processes, and on process flows concerning these.

The chosen areas for analysis are:


Service Problem Management: decomposition of SM&O level
2 process to level 3
Service Quality Analysis, Action & Reporting: decomposition
of SM&O level 2 process to level 3

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Service Problem Management: definition of flows and


linkages between level 3 processes
Assurance: definition of flows and linkages to provide an
End-to-End view to aid understanding of how these
processes can be used
Figure 4.2 shows the CRM Level 2 processes to provide context for this work.

S e rv ic e
M a n agem ent &
O p e r a tio n s

S M & O S up p o rt & S M & O R e a d ine s s S e rvic e S e r v i c e P ro b le m S e r v i c e Q ua lity S e r vic e & S p e c ific


P rocess C o n f i g ura tio n & M a n a g e m e nt A n a ly s is , A c tio n & In s t a n c e R a ting
M a n a g e m e nt A c t i va tio n R e p o rting

Te l e M a n a g e m e n t F o ru m O c t o b e r, 2 0 0 1

Figure 4.2: Service Management & Operations Level 2 Processes

Service Problem Management Level


3 Processes

The Service Problem Management process is a Level 2 process within the


Service Management & Operations Level 1 functional process grouping.

Description:
This process responds immediately to customer affecting service problems or
failures in order to minimize their effects on customers, and invoke the
restoration of the service as soon as possible. Service Problem Management
encompasses the reporting of problems, making a temporary fix or
workaround, isolating the root cause and acting to resolve it.

Purpose:
To guarantee fast response to QoS violations under a predefined threshold
(i.e. Service breakdowns or functional degradations)

Starts with (pre-condition):


Any trouble notification that affects service performance and needs short-term
analysis and resolution, coming from customers (Problem Handling) or from
resource management. (network and IT infrastructure)

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Input/From:
Problem Handling: info on customer complaints about QoS drops that need
immediate response.

Customer QoS/SLA Management: for information about particular customer


SLAs that would imply special actions or priorities. (i.e. strategic customers...)

Service Management & Operations Readiness: for notification of the new


service classes and details of quality level thresholds and restoration
procedures and operations.

Service Configuration & Activation: for info on resources activated for a


customer which need to be known in order to correlate resource problems
with service problems.

Resource Restoration: for info on resource problem restorations.

S/P Problem Reporting and Management: for S/P problem notifications that
should affect service performance (S/P problems that affect service own
services). Also notifications about S/P problem resolutions.

Service Quality Analysis, Action & Reporting: For info on service quality
degradations that need short-term responses.

Output/To
Problem Handling: Info and updates on estimated time to restore. Also
notification of problem resolution.

Customer QoS/SLA Management: info on impact on service performance


levels, in order to assess the impact on the customer SLA.

Service Quality, Analysis Action & Reporting: info on service problem records
for quality analysis and improvement recomendations.

S/P Problem Reporting & management: Inquiries and Requests to Restore, if


there is an S/P Problem that affects Service Performance.

Resource Restoration: Inquiries and Request to Restore, in case there is a


resource problem in the root causes of a service problem

Ends/With (post-condition):
Service Problem finished and reports made.

Process activities or steps:


Assess the impact of a S/P or resource problem on the service delivery.

Diagnosis of the root cause of customer complaints

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Establish Planning and monitoring of restoration actions

Generates records and reports about service problems.

Information required:
Procedures and operations for restoration

The resources an S/P involved in the service

The Service Problem Management process is decomposed into a set of


Level 3 processes, shown in Figure 4.3. This figure also shows candidate
Level 4 processes below each of the Level 3 processes. These are under
study.

Service
Problem
Management

Resolution
Closing
Evaluation and Planning
Diagnosis Resolution and
Qualification and
Tracking Reporting
Assignment

Identification of
Problem Request Diagnosis of Monitoring of
Resolution Service Testing
Receipt Problem Fault Resolution
Responsibility

Resolution Option Repair and


Problem Testing Problem Progress
Investigation and Reconfiguration
Performance Escalation Reporting
Recommendation Checking

Issue of cleared
Problem Scheduled
Problem
Qualification Task
Report

Specific Activity
Assignment

Figure 4.3: Service Problem Management - Level 3 (and candidate Level 4) Processes

The Service Problem Management Level 3 processes are described below.

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Evaluation & Qualification

Upon a customer complaint, this process will determine the nature of the
problem and if the customer is using the service properly. There will be
testing to fit or translate customer information into service information for
diagnosis. In case there is a S/P or resource problem notification (alarms, etc)
this process will analyze this information and translates these problems into
impact for customers, making the necessary reports towards the Problem
Handling (to inform about estimated time to restore) and QoS/SLA
management process to inform of the problem's impact on the service
performance.

Diagnosis

Performs the search of the root cause by means of the appropriate testing
and/or quires for information.

Resolution Planning and Assignment

According to the information provided by the Diagnosis process, this process


will prepare the plan for the resolution, splitting the resolution work into tasks,
and establish the appropriate task execution sequence, identifying other
parties responsible if necessary.

Resolution Tracking

This process also perform the necessary tracking of the execution progress in
order to assure that the whole resolution completed, according with the plan
established. Trouble reports will be made for the responsible parties, and this
process will coordinate all the actions necessary, in order to guarantee that all
tasks are finished at the appropriate time.

Closing and Reporting

This process will perform the necessary testing in order to certify the
recovering of the normal service performance, and make the necessary
reports about the problem occurred, the root cause and the works carried out
for restoration. It also will issue the trouble clearance report to inform the
CRM layer.

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Service Problem Management Level


3 Process Flows

Service Problem Management Level 3 Process Flows provide insight into the
process interactions around the Service Problem Management Level 2
process, and how these interactions map into the internal structure of this
process, to/from the contained level 3 processes (see above for
decomposition).

Figure 4.4 shows the Service Problem Management structure and the
process interactions involved.

Figure 4.4: Service Problem Management - Level 3 Process Flows

These process interactions can be characterized as follows:

INPUTS:
Trouble Ticket: Request to Resolve abnormal service performance perceived
by customers

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QoS Violations: This info is provided as a result of Impacted Service


Performance information passed to this process, in order to determine SPM
priorities.

New Service Instances: Information about the new customers and/or service
instances created by the Service Configuration and Activation Process

New Service Info, training and Ops: Details about new service classes in
order to manage their eventual problems.

Planned Maintenance: Information about scheduled works carried on by other


processes/providers, that can affect service performance, and/or generate
later service problems

Chronic Problems: Feedback about problems not correctly resolved in order


to modify the problem resolution process.

Reconfigurations: Information on changes made to service instance


configurations

Service Affecting Notification: Information about problems detected by other


processes/providers that con affect service performance. (e.g. network
alarms, resource failures, service problems in other providers.)

Restoration completion: Information about restoration works, as a result to


request to restore output.

TT Closed: Information about previous Trouble Tickets opened to other


Service Providers/Partners.

OUTPUTS:
Impacted service performance: Information passed to Customer QoS/SLQ
Mgmt in order to analyze whether there is a QoS violation, and/or the impact
on business caused by a service problem detected or planned maintenance.

Estimated time to Repair: Updates about problem resolution progress in order


to keep the customer informed by Problem Handling.

Request to reconfigure: In case of the problem caused by a service instance


(problem in customer premises, bad instance data...), this request will be
generated.

Trouble ticket: If the problem is caused by another S/P, a Trouble Ticket will
be generated.

Request to Restore: In case of problem is caused by a resource failure, this


request will be passed to Resource Restoration Process.

Trouble ticket closed: notification of the resolution of a trouble ticket, towards


Problem Handling

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Service Problem Report: Record about service problem for Service Quality
Analysis.

Service Quality Analysis, Action &


Reporting Level 3 Processes

The Service Quality Analysis, Action and Reporting process is a Level 2


process within the Service Management & Operations Level 1 functional
process grouping.

DESCRIPTION:
This process encompasses monitoring, analyzing and controlling the
performance of a service perceived by all customer of a service class The
Service Quality Analysis, Action and Reporting process is responsible for
restoring the service performance to a level specified in a SLA or other
service descriptions as soon as possible. It is also responsible for responding
to inquiries and reporting on service performance.

PURPOSE:
To provide effective monitoring and control to ensure that the service levels
specified for each service class are maintained and to provide real-time
information on the service levels achieved.

BUSINESS RULES:
Valid and complete service level parameters with their values and thresholds.

STARTS WITH (pre-condition):


Notification of a new service class ready to sell and deliver to customers
together with the service level parameters and values and thresholds that
need to be maintained to provide the service levels required.

INPUT/FROM:
Service Development & Retirement (for notification of the new service class
and details of the service level specification against which to compare service
performance, also notification of service withdrawal)

Resource Quality Analysis, Action & Reporting (resource performance levels,


resource degradation, faults)

S/P Performance Management (service performance information from the


S/Ps involved in providing part of a service for the SP including
degradations, S/P inquiries/complaints about service quality)

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Customer QoS/SLA Management (customer inquiries, complaints, reports,


etc. about service quality that Customer QoS/SLA Management cannot solve
plus any performance degradations against SLAs that are picked up by the
Customer QoS/SLA Management process)

Service Configuration & Activation (information on resources activated for a


customer which should be included in the performance monitoring for the
service and also on all resource modifications during the service lifetime)

Service Problem Management (information about problems that are being


dealt with)

OUTPUT/TO:
SM&O - Service Quality Management (service performance levels for
statistical and other long-term analyses)

Resource Quality Analysis, Action & Reporting (requests for performance


data, notification of performance problems)

Customer QoS/SLA Management (information on service performance


levels, responses to inquiries)

Service Problem Management (notification of performance degradation that


needs to be dealt with and KQI violations for root cause analysis)

S/P Performance Management (information on service performance levels,


responses to inquiries, notification of performance degradation that needs to
be restored)

ENDS/WITH (post-condition):
The service is withdrawn

PROCESS ACTIVITIES OR STEPS:


- Sets up and maintains monitoring of the resources involved in providing a
service

- Establishes whether the service performance levels are meeting the service
level specification

- Initiates procedures to counter service performance degradation

- Tracks a service performance degradation until it is resolved

- Responds to inquiries and provides reports on service performance

FUNCTIONS:
See decompositions and flows

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INFORMATION REQUIRED:
The performance level attributes, their values and the thresholds (hard and
soft) for every service class

The resources involved in providing the service (both internally and from
suppliers and partners)

The performance data to be analyzed

REQUIREMENTS:
Automated performance monitoring and threshold violation notification
procedures

Security

HINTS:
None at this level

REFERENCED/SOURCE:
TOM 2.1 (GB910)

eTOM 2.5 (GB921)

SLA Management Handbook (GB917)

WSMT team

ACCOUNTABLE:
Not applicable

The Service Quality Analysis, Action and Reporting process is decomposed


into a set of Level 3 processes, shown in Figure 4.5. This figure also shows
candidate Level 4 processes below each of the Level 3 processes. These are
under study.

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Service Quality
Analysis, Action &
Repor

Service Quality Usage & Cost Service Quality Service Cost Service Service Constraint
Monitoring Data Monitoring Analysis Analysis Improvement Identification &
Reporting

Performance Data Service Usage


Collection Monitoring Alarm Analysis Service Usage Service Quality Technical
Cost Analysis Improvement Constraint
Identification

Alarm Logging Service Cost Abnormal Usage Service Provision Service Cost Operational
Monitoring Analysis Cost Analysis Improvement Constraint
Identification

Abnormal Usage Performance Data Costing Resource Service


Monitoring Analysis Correlation Improvement Performance
Shortfall Reporting

Service
Performance
Inquiry Response

Figure 4.5: Service Quality Analysis, Action and Reporting - Level 3 (and candidate
Level 4) Processes

The Service Quality Analysis, Action and Reporting Level 3 processes are
described below.

SERVICE QUALITY MONITORING

This process collects and stores all quality indicators in relation with the
service, such as congestion events, resource alarm events. It also performs
automated testing using simulated calls or simulating standard user
behaviour, and collects data and identify abnormal usage by the service
users, i.e. bad passwords, terminal configurations.

USAGE & COST DATA MONITORING

Collects usage data (such as number of customers, peak hour traffic, etc) and
compiles service associated costs, such as infrastructure costs and process
(invoicing, provisioning...) costs.

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SERVICE QUALITY ANALYSIS

Using the raw data coming from S. Quality Monitoring, this process will
correlate the events in order to filteri repetitive alarms, or failure events that do
not affect the quality delivered, and will calculate service quality indicators,
(such as Mean Time Between Fails, chronic problems) in order to assess the
effectiveness of the service and identify the actual quality level perceived by
the customers against forecasted quality levels.

SERVICE COST ANALYSIS

From the raw data collected by Usage & Cost Data Monitoring, this process
will calculate service efficiency indicators (such as Answer to Send Ratio,
percentage of resources used, etc) in order to assess the efficiency of the
service against resource and process costs.

SERVICE IMPROVEMENT

Assess and recommends improvements using the information coming from


Service Quality Analysis and Service Cost Analysis in order to improve and/or
correct deviations from the forecasted quality and costs standards. This
recommendation will be passed to customer layer, resource layer or Service
Configuration Process.

SERVICE CONSTRAINT IDENTIFICATION & REPORTING

This process identifies the constraints than can affect service quality
standards, (i.e resource failures, capacity shortages due to unexpected
demand peaks, ) and passes this information to the CRM layer in order to
keep customers informed.

Service Quality Analysis, Action and


Reporting Level 3 Process Flows

Service Quality Analysis, Action and Reporting Level 3 Process Flows


provide insight into the process interactions around the Service Quality
Analysis, Action and Reporting Level 2 process, and how these interactions
map into the internal structure of this process, to/from the contained level 3
processes (see above for decomposition).

Figure 4.6 shows the Service Problem Management structure and the
process interactions involved.

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Figure 4.6: Service Quality Analysis, Action and Reporting - Level 3 Process Flows

Assurance End-to-End Flows

Assurance forms a Level 1 process within the eTOM Operations Level 0


process grouping (see Figure 4.7, and GB921 for further details)

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Figure 4.7: eTOM Business Process FrameworkLevel 1 Processes

Within the work program on Assurance, attention concentrated on developing


a view of the end-to-end process flows that link the processes involved in the
assurance activity. This provides additional insight into the operation of the
processes concerned, and also explains the dynamic behavior of the
processes in terms of event associations, information transfer and the
sequencing of process steps involved in the overall procedures.

The goal of this analysis is to document process flows at Level 3 (and


eventually below), but in examining this area it is useful to show higher-level
interactions as an aid to understanding the context of the process
relationships. This work therefore follows the overall methodology described
previously (see Methodology for Process Analysis).

The focus is on Assurance for a Mobile VPN (Virtual Private Network)


Transmission Affected Customer Corporate service, so as to allow a realistic
scenario to be used in developing the flows concerned. However, it is
intended that the work has general application, not just in the context of this
service, and consequently care has been taken not to make the flows
service-specific.

Cases where resources are provided form within the service providers own
domain, as well as where suppliers and partners are involved in this, have
been taken into account.

At this point, the views that have been developed indicate sequencing, and
imply involvement by different Level 3 processes within the indicated Level 2

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process as shown in Figure 4.8, Figure 4.9 and Figure 4.10. Here, a given
Level 2 process may be shown several times, to allow the sequencing of its
involvement in the flow to be more clearly seen. Typically, different
functionality is involved at each point for a given Level 2 process, so this is a
step towards identification of the specific Level 3 process or processes, within
the Level 2 process which will support the interactions.

Note that these diagrams are derived from the model developed for this E2E
flow within the process modeling tool.

Customer
Customer Customer
complaint Notification

Customer
Relationship
Management

Problem
Customer
Customer
Report
Problem
Problem Problem
Problem Problem
Problem QoS/SLA
QoS/SLA
Handling
Handling Handling
Handling Handling
Handling Management
Management

Estimated Time Restoration


of Repair Problem
Trouble Update Cleaned
Service
Management Ticket Service
and Problem Root Action Problem Problem Bad Quality
Operations (SPM)
(SPM) Description (SPM)
(SPM) (SPM)
(SPM) (SPM)
(SPM) (SQAAR)
(SQAAR)
Cause Plan Persist Report Indicator
Evaluation
Evaluation (SPM)
(SPM) Resolution
Resolution Resolution
Resolution Closing
Closingand
and Service
Service (SQAAR)
(SQAAR)
and
and Diagnosis
Diagnosis Planning
Planningand
and Tracking
Tracking Reporting
Reporting Quality
Quality Service
Service
Qualification
Qualification Assignment
Assignment Plan Analysis
Analysis Improvement
Improvement
Finished Improvement
proposal
Service
Service
Restoration Restoration Configuration
Configuration
Request Finished and
and
Activation
Activation
Resource
Management
and Resource
Resource
Restoration
Restoration
Operations

Supplier/Part
ner
Relationship
Management

Level 2 Process

Level 3 Process

Figure 4.8: Detailed View of Assurance Process Flows at Level 2 (source: customer
complaint)

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eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A Page 69

Customer

Customer
Relationship
Management

Customer
Customer
QoS/SLA
QoS/SLA
Management
Management

Service Problem Problem


Service (SQAAR)
Notification Report
(SQAAR)
Management Service
Service
and Quality Root Action Problem Problem Bad Quality
Quality (SPM) (SPM) (SPM) (SQAAR)
Operations Analysis Cause (SPM) Plan (SPM) Persist (SPM) Report (SQAAR) Indicator
Analysis (SPM) Resolution Resolution Closing
(SPM) Resolution Resolution Closingand
and Service
Service (SQAAR)
(SQAAR)
Diagnosis
Diagnosis Planning
Planningand
and Tracking
Tracking Reporting
Reporting Quality
Quality Service
Service
Key Performance Assignment
Assignment Plan Analysis
Analysis Improvement
Improvement
Indicators Finished Improvement
proposal
(SQAAR)
(SQAAR)
Service Service
Service
Service Restoration Restoration Configuration
Quality
Quality Configuration
Request Finished and
Monitoring
Monitoring and
Activation
Activation
Alarm
Resource Fault
Management Resource
and Resource Resource
Resource
Problem
Problem Restoration
Operations Restoration
management
management

Supplier/Part
ner
Relationship
Management

Level 2 Process
Alarm Fault

Level 3 Process

Figure 4.9: Detailed View of Assurance Process Flows at Level 2 (source: alarm fault)

Customer

Customer
Relationship
Management

Customer
Customer
QoS/SLA
QoS/SLA
Management
Management

Service Problem Problem


Service (SQAAR)
Notification Report
(SQAAR)
Management Service
Service
and Cost Root Action Problem Problem Bad Quality
Cost (SPM) (SPM) (SPM) (SQAAR)
Operations Analysis Cause (SPM) Plan (SPM) Persist (SPM) Report (SQAAR) Indicator
Analysis (SPM) Resolution Resolution Closing
(SPM) Resolution Resolution Closingand
and Service
Service (SQAAR)
(SQAAR)
Diagnosis
Diagnosis Planning
Planningand
and Tracking
Tracking Reporting
Reporting Quality
Quality Service
Service
Key Performance Assignment
Assignment Plan Analysis
Analysis Improvement
Improvement
Indicators Finished Improvement
(SQAAR)
proposal
(SQAAR)
Usage Service
Service
Usage&&Cost
Cost Restoration Restoration
Data Configuration
Configuration
Data Request Finished
Monitoring and
and
Monitoring
Activation
Activation
Resource Statistics
Management Resource
and Resource Resource
Resource
Problem
Problem Restoration
Operations Restoration
management
management

Supplier/Part
ner
Relationship
Management

Statistics
Level 2 Process

CDR
Level 3 Process

Figure 4.10: Detailed View of Assurance Process Flows at Level 2 (source: statistics and
CDR)

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Chapter 5 - Resource Management

Overview

Resource Management & Operations (RM&O) forms a Level 1 process within


the eTOM Operations Level 0 process grouping (see Figure 5.1, and GB921
for further details). Resource Development & Management (RD&M) forms a
corresponding Level 1 process within the eTOM Strategy, Infrastructure &
product Level 0 process grouping (see Figure 5.1). Together, RM&O and
RD&M constitute a Resource Management layer spanning both of these
Level 0 process groupings.

Figure 5.1: eTOM Business Process FrameworkLevel 1 Processes

The work program on Resource Management is proceeding initially in a


different way from some of the other areas discussed in this document. The
focus at this stage is to present information more in the form of an application
note, to allow discussion on some of the themes and issues which are
significant for development of Resource Management. With this in mind, a

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eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A Page 71

number of areas of interest have been included below, with the intention that
the ongoing consideration of these is used as a basis for developing process
decompositions, flows, etc, that are relevant to the Resource Management
domain. The initial focus is on the Operations domain, i.e., on RM&O rather
than RD&M, but this will develop over time.

The current areas of interest are:


What are Resources - definition of the resources relevant to
the Resource Management domain, and how these interact
Resources and the eBusiness Environment analysis of
additional or modified requirements on Resource
Management for ebusiness
Resources and NGOSS analysis of the linkage from
Resource Management through to system and
information/data within NGOSS.
Resources and TMN analysis of the impact of interaction
with and support for TMN-based networks and other
resources.
Product, Service and Resource definition of the
entities/artifacts involved in support for Resource information,
and the link with Service information and eventually Product
information.
Resources and Service Level Agreements analysis of the
link between resource performance and support to the
eventual customer SLA.
Example Product description and analysis of the use of
Resource Management in a non-traditional, multi-service
product scenario, to allow exploration of the implications of
this area of eTOM development on a management solution
RM&O Process Decompositions specific proposals on
process decompositions within RM&O to Level 3 and beyond,
together with appropriate related process flow definitions
Related Standards description of significant related work in
other bodies which is relevant to the evolution of this domain
Each of these topics is developed within the individual sections below.

Figure 5.2 shows the RM&O Level 2 processes, and Figure 5.3 shows the RD&M level 2 processes,
to provide context for this work.

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Page 72 eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A

Resource
Management &
Operations

RM&O Support & RM&O Operations Resource Resource Data


Resource Quality
Process Readiness Provisioning & Resource Problem Collection,
Analysis, Action &
Management Allocation to Management Analysis & Control
Reporting
Service Instance

TeleManagement Forum October, 2002

Figure 5.2: Resource Management & Operations Level 2 Processes

R e s o urc e
D e v e lo p m e nt &
M a n a g e m e nt

R e s o urc e & R e s o urc e & R e s o urc e & R e s o urc e R e s o urc e


Te c h n o lo g y Te c h n o lo g y O p e r a tio ns D e v e lo p m e nt P e r f o rm a nc e
S t r a t e g y & P o lic y P la n ning & C a p a b i lity D e live ry A s s e s s m e nt
C o m m i tm e nt

Te l e M a n a g e m e n t F o ru m O c t o b e r, 2 0 0 1

Figure 5.3: Resource Development & Management Level 2 Processes

What are Resources

The starting point for consideration of Resource Management is what is


meant by resource. In the past, most attention in this area was focused on
the telecommunications network itself, with its Network Elements, their
differing role within the communications infrastructure, and the functionality
and data which they supported. Nowadays, a broader view of resource is
needed, including not just the network, but the IT infrastructure, the
information and content carried, and even the human resources involved
with the hardware, software and systems.

One of the objectives of the Resource Management subteam is therefore to


contribute to the understanding of what resources are:

Resources are part of an enterprise's infrastructure utilized by a


Service or a good procured by the market. They are drawn
from the Application, Computing and Network domains, and
include, for example, Network Elements, software, IT systems,
and technology components.

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eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A Page 73

One of the other objectives is to explore and document how Resource


Management integrates across the different types of resources: Application,
Computing and Network. For example, the Element and Network
Management Systems (EMS/NMS) also considered as
Computing/Application Resources. Even the Network Elements belong to
that category.

It should be noted that, since eTOM is a Business Process Framework, the


Resource Management subteam will maintain a Business View, rather than a
Technology or Systems View.

The eTOM Process Framework defines two horizontal process groupings:


Resource Development and Management in the Lifecycle Management
domain and Resource Management and Operations in the Fulfillment-
Assurance-Billing domain.

Follows some initial Resource definitions which form the basis for the
Resource Model development in the SID team. This can be used as
background information while developing the Resource Management
understanding.

An "element" (device) is a logical resource entity that consists of physical


"equipment" (hardware), software and data. They can be of type:

"network element" such as a router.

"information content element" such as a web server.

"security element" such as an AAA server.

others ?

Collections of "network elements" along with "policies", "protocols", and


"profiles" can form "networks".

Collections of "elements" may also comprise "systems", such as a system of


web servers which load share, or provide redundancy.

"services" are performed for customers by "elements", "systems", and


"networks".

"service access points" are provided by "elements".

An "application" is a software package used by a customer, which resides on


customer equipment.

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Resource Classifications

Follows a description of how resources can be classified, which can be used


as a basis for brainstorming on this topic. This should also be validated with
the Resource Model being developped by the SID team.

Resources can be classified in several ways. The first way is to categorise


them by technology (e.g. telecom equipment, applications etc.). However, this
may lead to the fact that processes are divided according to technology at too
high level. The other way is to start from physical and logical components.
Logical resources are non-tangible characteristics of an element impelmented
using physical resources (computing).

IC Service
Resource

Logical
Resource

Logical Virtual Radio Physical


Process Parameter
address Path/Trail frequency Resource

Processing Systems Application


?
hardware software software

Connection Power
Cable Duct Manhole Cabinet
point unit

NOTE: The problem here may be, that technological differences may appear
at too low level. The figure above represents only a very drafty version of the
resource classification. How does one classify hard disk space or memory
space! Can this classification never be normalised?

From management point of view the main difference between physical and
logical resource are, that physical resources cannot be fully managed without
physical contact (either directly by humans or using robotics or other
telemechanics). Logical resources can be managed using OSS functions.

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eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A Page 75

Integration across Application, Computing and Network components

Since Network Management and Systems Management (Computing and


Application) are quite different problem spaces (from a scale, security and
history, point of view), it was suggested that until we have further
developed the model, we would keep Resources as an integration entity at
the highest layer, but then split the specifics of Network and Systems
Management at the lower level. This means that for the time being we will
handle the Application and Computing resources separately, and only focus
on Network Resources. However while we further develop the Resource
Management & Operations and Resource Development and Management,
we should be open and alert for areas where specifics of these resource
types are applicable.

It is expected that a number of standardization activities might give us a good


insight in this:

ITIL (defines how to run IT in a company, but in


particular, it is also used by ISPs and ASPs)

MS Operations Framework (set of applications, ITIL


compliant)

Note: Current (new) release of ITIL includes only Service Delivery and
Service Support. The books under construction are ICT Infrastructure
Management (which in the coming release includes Systems Management
for the first time) and Applications Management. These are of course the
most important ones concerning resource management.

While looking at the above standards, we will do this from a Resource


Management point of view, but should be aware of potential relevance to
other areas of eTOM.

Resources and the eBusiness


Environment

The eBusiness model requires infrastructure, a delivery platform and also the
content to be delivered. We plan to further study the dynamics of the
eBusiness environment, in order to better understand what resources are,
their relationship to the Products and Services, and how resources are
owned.

To be developed in the future

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Resources and NGOSS

Resource Management, due to its direct association with real-world entities in


the network, the computing infrastructure, etc, is the area of eTOM where
linkage with the system and data application is most apparent. With eTOMs
role as the business drive into the rest of the NGOSS environment, Resource
Management has a special significance in supporting this linkage.

System View Aspects

The NGOSS System View defines a number of Management domains as


shown in Figure 5.4. The Technology and Equipment Management Domains
represent Resources.

c le
cy t
En nag
fe en
M

i
te em
a

L em Portfolio
rp e
P ag
ris nt
&
SI Man
e

Business
Operations
Enterprise
Equipment
Technology
Product

Mkt/Sales Workforce Service

er
Supplier/
rtn
Customer
a
Cu

Partner
/P
er
sto

Invoice/
li
m

Payment
p
er

up
S

Figure 5.4: System View Management Domains

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eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A Page 77

Further study of how Resource Management is mapping to these


Management Domains is expected to be performed.

Shared Information and Data Model Aspects

The NGOSS Shared Information and Data Model has similar Management
Domain as defined within the Systems View. SIDM is very relevant for the
activities of the Resource Management subteam, as SIDM defines Business
Entities such as Resource, Service and Product.

Resources and TMN

Many existing environments employ TMN principles in their management


strategies, and as with the relationship with NGOSS discussed above
Resource Management is a key area in linking with this

This will be the subject of future work.

Terminology

One of the issues to get closure upon is whether we need to current eTOM
terminology, or go for an alignment with the TMN terminology:

Resource Provisioning -> Resource Configuration

Resource Problem Management -> Resource Fault

Resource Quality Analysis -> Resource


PerformanceResource Data Collection - > Resource
Usage

Product, Service and Resource

Product, Service and Resource are key concepts in the structuring of eTOM .
They are also central to definition of common information and data used in
developing a solution around the eTOM approach. To support the modeling
work, it is not only important to understand what Resources are, but also to
get a grasp of how Resources related to Services and Products.

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The following definition is a good starting point for the work which is currently
still ongoing. This should be further addressed in a larger audience,
including the eTOM, SID and System Teams.

A Product is an externally facing representation of a service and/or resource


procured by the market. For example, a real-time broadcast of a football
match. A Service is an intangible realization of a Product or something
provided in support of a Product. For example, a video streaming connection
used to transmit the football match to a customer's PDA; an installation
service provided for a cable modem. A Resource is part of an enterprise's
infrastructure utilized by a Service or a good procured by the market. For
example, a wireless network is utilized by the video streaming connection; an
inventory of cable modems offered to the market.

Since there is such a wide variety of technologies which enable an even


wider range of services, that on turn can be packaged in a large number of
products to offer to the customers, it is a challenge to represent that
relationship in simple terms. However we will continue working this. In the
next section, we will provide an example of this relationship for a specific
service.

Resources and Service Level


Agreements

The Resource Management area is focused down towards the managed


environment, rather than up towards the Customer (to use the orientation
shown in eTOM). Nevertheless, Resource Management must support
customer interaction, and in particular the customers Service Level
Agreement (SLA) through gathering of all the necessary information about
resource operation to allow SLA provisions to be assessed and a decision to
be made on whether the SLA has been adequately met. This aspect of
Resource Management is linked with the interaction among Resource,
Service and Product discussed previously

Thus, while we will continue detailing the Resource Management &


Operations, we need to be aware of which are the main resources for SLA
Information.

When talking about SLA, people typically do not distinguish between


Communications Services (technology related) and Operations Services
(everything around the technology such as for example the responsiveness of
customer agents). When referring to resources, we should talk specifically
about Communications Service Level Agreement (i.e. QoS, COS, TOS,
GOS...).

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eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A Page 79

Communications SLAs can be "easily" negotiated automatically (machine-to-


machine), whereas Operations SLAs are more complicated (e.g. how
expensive it is to gurantee 2 hour TTRS any time instead of 4 hour TTRS
during normal working hours).

Whether sources of information for OSLA or CSLA are more important


depends on the type of the service (e.g. availability more important than
guaranteed bitrate).

The SLA handbook will be used to guide the work in this context.

Example Product

As will be seen from the previous material, there are many aspects to
Resource Management to be considered. To assist in linking these together,
and to translate the analysis into a practical description of how Resource
Management works, we apply these ideas to an example product
demonstrating the implications for a real-world application scenario.

For an example product, we will provide the following:

Product Definition

Reference Architecture

Product/Service/Resource Relationship

Business Context Model

Resource Ownership

The example which is described hereafter is based on the current


understanding of how Products, Services and Resources relate to one
another, and will be further tuned as models are being developed.

First a few definitions:

A Product Offering is what is offered to the customers

A Producdt is an instance of a Producdt Offering, what


is owned by the customer

Applications run on Customer Equipment as well as on


servers

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Page 80 eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A

Product Definition

From your Service Provider, you bought a Relax-n-Enjoy Product, which is an


extension on the basic UMTS product you already bought a while ago. It
provides a number of Personalized and location based product offerings such
as:

MusiScope

MovieScope

Restaurant Assist

Pub Locator

Subscribers to the Pub Locator product offering can obtain the location of the
nearest pub in their neighborhood. A customer can browse the entire beer
list, the list of Belgian beers on tab or just query whether they serve your
favorite beer.

In addition to locating the nearest pub, the customer can also look for pubs
that serve a favorite beer, based on the customers personal preferences.

The product can also display the route to the pub from the customers current
location.

Reference Architecture

We will use the OSA/PARLAY Reference Architecture to support the


elaboration of the example product offering.

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eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A Page 81

The OSA/Parlay Gateway, is a so called Service Capability Server. It offers the API
interfaces and hence can be found at the edge of the Service Network and the Core
Network.
Applications access network capabilities through the API's and get accessed via the
OSA/Parlay API's.

Product/Service/Resource Relationship

Product Offerings
Relax-n-Enjoy:

set of Personalized and Location Based Product


Offerings

pre-requisite: basic UMTS service

monthly subscription fee

Charges incurred on per click-based cost unit

Relax-n-Enjoy consists of following product offerings:

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Page 82 eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A

MusiScope

MovieScope

RestaurantGuide

Pub Locator

We will further detail the Pub Locator Product Offering

Services
The Pub Locator Offering is realized by the following service

Access to pub locater application

Maps to pubs

Applications
The Pub Locator Offering makes use of following applications:

Map Display

Pub Locator

User Location

Authentication, Authorization and Accounting

User Profile

Computing Resources
The Pub Locator Offering makes use of following computing resources:

Application Servers

AAA Server

We should make a distinction between Network Provider and other


resources.

Network Resources
The Pub Locator Offering makes use of following network resources:

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eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A Page 83

3G Network Resources

Core Network Resources

Service Capability Network Resources

Business Context Model

This will be subject of future work.

Resource Ownership

This will be subject of future work.

RM&O Process Decompositions

To date, preliminary process decomposition work was initiated for:

Resource Provisioning and Allocation to Service


Instance

Resource Problem Management

Resource Data Collection, Analysis and Control

Related Standards

A good deal of work has been already taken place, or is ongoing, in formal
standards bodies, industry groups, etc which relates to consideration of
Resource Management. This current work draws particularly on the following:

TMN

TMN (Telecommunications Management Network) standardization activities


are a part of the ITU-T (previously CCITT)

The TMN architecture M.3010* Principles for a Telecommunications


Management Network, provides general principles for planning, operating

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and maintaining a telecommunications management network. It provides a


physical and information architecture based on the manager - agent concepts
from (X.701*), OSI Systems Management Overview. X.701 supports
transaction-oriented TMN applications. The TMN functional architecture
introduces layering of TMN management functionality.

Recommendation M.3400 provides specifications of TMN management


functions and TMN management function sets. A TMN management function
is a cooperative interaction between application processes in managing and
managed systems for the management of telecommunications resources,
and is the smallest functional part of a TMN management service as
perceived by the TMN users.

See: www.itu.int/TMN/Getstart.html

ITIL

Originally established in the early 1980s by the UK govt Central Computer


and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA) as a set of guidance for best
practice management of Information Technology and Telecommunications
operations. It has matured to provide a standard approach to the processes
and functions of technology infrastructure service management.

The ITIL (IT Infrastructure Library) standard for Service Management is;
Public domain; business focussed; has a quality approach; is the defacto
standard for service management.

The ITIL Service Management Process Maturity Model has nine "Levels:
Level 5 Customer Interface
Level 4.5 External integration
Level 4 Management Information
Level 3.5 Quality Control
Level 3 Products
Level 2.5 Internal integration
Level 2 Process Capability
Level 1.5 Management Intent
Level 1 Prerequisites

See www.itil.co.uk

OSA/PARLAY

The Parlay Group has been created in 1998 to promote open Application
Programming Interfaces (API) that links IT applications with the capabilities of
the networks. It is an open, multi-vendor forum organized to create open,
technology independent APIs enabling the development of applications

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eTOM Business Process Framework Addendum A Page 85

across multiple networks. It is a group that includes nearly 50 companies with


most of the largest telco operators, network equipment vendors and IT
companies.

The Parlay Group has defined a set of APIs to enable a new generation of
off-the-shelf network applications/components (e.g. messaging, mobility, end-
to-end quality of service, etc.) to be developed by application providers
(ISV/ASP) independent of the underlying voice/multimedia network.

Most of the Parlay Group specifications are used as a baseline for


3GPP/OSA (Open Service Access) in the context of mobile networks.

See www.parlay .org

PAM Forum

The PAM Forum is an independent nonprofit consortium dedicated to


establishing and promoting Presence and Availability Management (PAM) as
an ad hoc industry standard. The focus of the PAM Forum is to develop and
promote a presence and availability interface specification that enables
software vendors and service providers to bring personalized, interoperable
communications services to market. PAM-based services enable customer
control of communications choices and privacy options across multiple
devices and networks.

See www.pamforum.org

3GPP

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is a collaboration agreement


that was established in December 1998. The collaboration agreement brings
together a number of telecommunications standards bodies which are known
as Organizational Partners. The current Organizational Partners are ARIB,
CWTS, ETSI, T1, TTA, and TTC. The establishment of 3GPP was
formalized in December 1998 by the signing of the The 3rd Generation
Partnership Project Agreement.

The original scope of 3GPP was to produce globally applicable Technical


Specifications and Technical Reports for a 3rd Generation Mobile System
based on evolved GSM core networks and the radio access technologies that
they support (i.e., Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA) both Frequency
Division Duplex (FDD) and Time Division Duplex (TDD) modes). The scope
was subsequently amended to include the maintenance and development of
the Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) Technical Specifications
and Technical Reports including evolved radio access technologies (e.g.
General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and Enhanced Data rates for GSM
Evolution (EDGE)).

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A permanent project support group called the Mobile Competence Centre


(MCC) has been established to ensure the efficient day to day running of
3GPP. The MCC is based at the ETSI headquarters in Sophia Antipolis,
France.

See www.3gpp.org

GB921a v1.0 TeleManagement Forum 2002

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