Specialists

Obviously, the growing importance of networks in business organizations will lead to an increase in the number of specialists who can manage these data communications systems. This section discusses the role of a network manager and his or her staff in a corporate environment. The network manager is responsible for performing all of the major management functions such as network planning, implementing, operating and controlling that relate to the communications system. The network planning and network controlling are the most important among them.

Network Planning

It involves anticipating the future computer-based communications needs of the organization. Network planning consists of three parts:

• Capacity planning involves estimating the quantity of data communications that will be required

• Staff planning consists of determining the number of employees that will be necessary to efficiently maintain the network system

• Performance monitoring consists of anticipating the effects of changes in the network's design.

Network Control

It involves activities in which the performance of the network is compared to predetermined standards to determine when corrective action or improvements are needed.