A comparison of the PRISM and OMNI-point methodologies for the specification of management systems

Abstract

This paper compares methodologies for the specification of Service Management systems, proposed by two groups, RACE project PRISM and the NMForum (Network Management Forum) OMNI Point 1 approach. The PRISM Methodology has been under development since 1992 by 21 European companies (including the paper authors). This paper presents the scope of both approaches, by considering, as far as possible, what the output of each methodology consists of. This is done as it is easier to compare methodologies by looking at what must be concretely specified as output of methodologies rather than by merely comparing their process and steps. First, both approaches are presented separately, for ease of understanding and since there is not a straight-forward one-to-one mapping between them.

A comparison of the scope of both methodologies is then given, by highlighting areas of overlap (or competition) and areas where they complement each other. Some of the comparisons made, draw on aspects outside the actual methodologies in order to further examine the scope of the approaches of both consortia. Finally conclusions on the result of the comparison are drawn. The comparison should be valuable to the network and service management research and implementation communities, as they are now actively in the process of specifying and designing multi-domain management systems whose interoperable interfaces are derived from TMN.