ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the evolution of the network manager through the decades of 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, and review the inexorable changes in technology, global business/political issues, telecommunications legislation/regulation, and the corresponding responses by the telecommunications industry as they all combine to direct and change the role of the network manager. Network manager engineered the message and data systems based on user requirements, traffic volumes, location of corporate offices, and the line expenses associated with connection of the teletypewriters (TTYs). Network manager had the continuing challenges of quality of service, availability of service, and the cost-effective mix of various types of services necessary to satisfy user demands. Network manager found themselves running hard to stay abreast of the rapid developments in the data world, both in the wide area network (WAN) and local area network (LAN) environments, and new e-mail services were beginning to appear with their own set of capability and compatibility issues.
