PRODUCTION BASED SYSTEM INTO A TECHNOLOGY DRIVEN ENVIRONMENT

Production Based System Into A Technology Driven Environment

Introduction

A management information system (MIS) focus is on information that management needs to prepare its job. This task becomes much more difficult when the major players have a tradition of high independence, are often confrontational to management, and are irreplaceable independent contractors. CIO's in major business organizations face exactly this situation; further complicated by the fact that the reengineering effort is crucial to the continued existence of the organization.

Such discussion has driven the software industry to focus attention on software specifically designed to support the team approach essential to most service and customer oriented organizations. The importance of teamwork can not be over emphasize in achieving overall organizational goals, and the need to capture and manage an organization's knowledge base remain crucial. This teamwork enables the organization to achieve and sustain competitive advantage in their business.

Discussion

MSOC

MSOC combines process management, work measurement, management controls, and people development. It is the BellSouth way to achieve operations and process excellence and create a culture that focuses on continual improvement, contributing to improved execution, and focusing on streamlined processes that add value.

MSOC drives the corporation toward operations and process excellence through behavioral changes. Over the past two years, BellSouth has seen cost reductions ranging from 15 percent to 25 percent while improving customer satisfaction in all areas of the business.

The MSOC method helps fulfill the following goals:

* Provides the foundation to leverage opportunities in managing the business more effectively

* Establishes clear performance goals

* Provides a framework for continuous improvement

* Enhances organizational capability for best practices and employee skill development

By using MSOC, management and front line employees are fully engaged in the daily operation of their group while both first- and second-level managers better understand their circle of control and how it applies to a successful and highly efficient organization.

Making a case for change

In the 21st century, the service industry faces dynamic challenges in worker productivity, outsourcing, offshoring, home-sourcing, and rightsizing. BellSouth and the telecommunications industry are no exception. For example, cable companies can now offer what was once considered traditional Bell-based services along with broadband and television.

The BellSouth name has traditionally been synonymous with voice and general telecommunications systems. With today's rapidly changing and evolving telecom, the industry is experiencing a growing demand for broadband and wireless services along with a decline in voice-based land-line business.

As a result, service providers like BellSouth have been looking at programs implemented within the traditional manufacturing environments in trying to replicate productivity gains last seen in the industrial revolution.

It is due to this current environment of competition that MSOC was developed. MSOC enables BellSouth to be fully effective in managing day-to-day activities during the company's transformation into a truly broadband company, featuring a strategy to attain operational excellence through cost transformation.

Measuring up to lean and Six Sigma

Telecom companies have adopted popular efficiency programs such as lean and Six Sigma to focus on improving worker productivity, process delivery, and ...