Post-divestiture telecommunications: Priorities, issues and concerns

The rapid growth of online systems has made telecommunications technology a critical component of information systems in most organizations. Many of these online systems support crucial operational activities of the organizations. In the U.S.A., since the divestiture of AT&T, telecommunications function has expanded in both complexity and importance. There is a great need for understanding the role and positioning of telecommunications in the enterprise and the major issues that concern management of this function. Using a survey of 137 U.S. organizations, this article reports organizational concerns of telecommunications management. It describes telecommunications position in organizations, level of investments in telecommunications technology, issues affecting its management, and factors influencing vendor selection, network management, and telecommunications system design. Some implications for national and international organizations are discussed.