Copyright Ken Fletcher 2003 Australian Computer Security Pty Ltd Printed 28-Jun-15 21:27 1 Prepared for: Monash University Subj: CSE5806 Telecommunications Management Lecture 11 CSE5806 Revision Questions for discussions CSE5806 Telecommunications Management Lecturer: Ken Fletcher

2 Copyright Ken Fletcher 2003 Australian Computer Security Pty Ltd Printed 28-Jun-15 21:27 Prepared for: Monash University Subj: CSE5806 Telecommunications Management 1. Class Test 2001 Q1 (gist) n Question 1. n An American commentator wrote: "the reason the American telecommunications networks are the best in the world is that they have been built by free enterprise companies in competition with each other. Other countries were stuck with inefficient government monopolies which stifled development and technological innovation." n Leaving aside the value judgement as to whether American telecommunications networks actually are the best, Discuss this statement in the context of the patterns of development of telecommunications networks in various countries in the world. Some of the questions you could address are –whether the predominance of government monopoly carriers has helped or hindered development, and –whether the growth of competition in many countries has improved either or both the technical infrastructure and the availability of services. Use examples from countries covered in the syndicate presentations to illustrate your discussion.

3 Copyright Ken Fletcher 2003 Australian Computer Security Pty Ltd Printed 28-Jun-15 21:27 Prepared for: Monash University Subj: CSE5806 Telecommunications Management 2. Class Test 2000 Q1 (gist) n In two different articles that appeared in the business press recently, A."We should recognize that when compared with other developed countries, Australia has one of the least regulated telecommunications systems. Probably only New Zealand has less government direction in the telecomms industry", and B."One of the problems with the telecommunications industry in Australia is that it is shackled by unnecessary regulation. Until the government gets off its back, as has happened in other Western countries, it can't develop properly". n These two comments cannot both be correct, or can they? n Discuss the nature and level of regulation in the telecommunications industry in Australia. Is it more or less regulated than in comparable countries? What are the implications of the regulatory framework for the managers of communications networks within Australian enterprises?

4 Copyright Ken Fletcher 2003 Australian Computer Security Pty Ltd Printed 28-Jun-15 21:27 Prepared for: Monash University Subj: CSE5806 Telecommunications Management 3. Class Test 2001 Q2 (gist) n You are engaged in a major equipment upgrade involving several suppliers of facilities. No single manufacturer can meet your needs. You have checked out the facilities and have a pretty good idea of the sorts of thing you want to buy and what you need to spend. You have reached the point where there seem to be two broad options: prepare and issue a Request For Tenders in which you ask for either a single umbrella supplier to provide all your requirements, or a set of individual suppliers to provide parts of your requirements; select a short list of potential suppliers, based on the information obtained so far, and proceed directly to negotiate contracts with them. n Discuss the pros and cons of these two approaches. Which do you think represents the greater risk to the organization, and which is likely to prove more cost-effective in the long term? Do different types of organizations prefer one approach over the other, and if so, why?