Answering Business Service

Why implement service quality? Is it possible to ensure reliable service quality in multi-service IP networks? Which technologies help in making end-to-end quality of service a realistic business proposition? In "Implementing Service Quality in IP Networks," Vilho Risnen answers these questions and more. The author discusses the business drivers for multi-service IP networks from various different angles. He defines service quality, explains how to estimate and measure the end-user experience and discusses different ways of conveying service quality requirements to the network. Turning theory into practice, he uses Service Level Agreements (SLAs) as a framework for discussing inter-domain management and measurement of multi-service IP networks. Bandwidth broker assisted signalling is presented as an evolutionary step towards dynamic SLAs. Finally, a case study describing service quality support in an IP-based Radio Access Network (RAN) illustrates the techniques introduced in the book. Features: A service-centred approach to Quality of Service A 'system solution' for end-to-end service support An overview of QoS support technologies such as Differentiated Services (DiffServ), Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS), traffic engineering, policy management, and SLAs Management solutions for network administrators Application in an IP-based wireless Radio Access NetworkA practical guide which will appeal to all network planners, managers, administrators and designers, as well as students on network management courses, this book demonstrates that implementing service quality in IP networks is a realistic business goal. "IP-based services and networks are already dominatingfixed services and will do the same in mobile within a few years time. In order to improve network utilization, manage service levels for end-users and between operators QoS is absolutely necessary.

How is your business these days? Do the following sound familiar? Market share flat or falling? Margins being squeezed ever thinner? Increased competition from new players? Technology out-racing you? Customers wanting more than you can offer? In all businesses today the answer is yes! For many, the solution is to focus on their core business processes commonly known as Business Process Reengineering (BPR). Now some businesses have gone beyond BPR and are using holonic networks to respond to the rising challenges of business in the 1990s. Holonic networks give businesses the agility to rapidly change product and service capabilities to meet rapidly changing market demands, offering the following advantages: leverage there is true synergy achieved by combining the best capabilities of many operations. speed decision making is streamlined which shows up as improved time to market. flexibility rapid change to product or service capabilities to match changing customer requirements. fast growth and high profits improving customer responsiveness by 33% results in a growth rate of 300% and up to 500% more profit than competitors. sustainable customers tough for competitors to wean them away. reduced capital requirement shared costs and fuller use made of equipment. quick failure recognition real-time operation recognizes and then fixes failure. In this book, the authors describe how holonic networks and the virtual companies within them have been implemented in businesses as diverse as Ford, Hewlett Packard, Benetton and R Griggs, the company that makes Doc Marten shoes. Beyond Business Process Reengineering provides a thought-provoking and practicalexamination of business today. For everyone in business being pulled through competition, technological change and their own reengineering efforts, it provides a new and radical alternative to downsizing, restructuring, cost reduction and strategic repositioning.