Planning software design flexibility [telecommunications]

Argues that the ability to address swiftly the requirements of a changing market or to integrate a new technology or satisfy unique customer features enhances the success and the life span of a communication software product like a packet switching network. The authors describe how this requirement was addressed during the development of the Integrated Packet Switching Network (IPN) and provide examples of its successful application. It is concluded that the use of structured design, modular software applications, strict configuration management procedures, and standard development environments, results in a system with the required capabilities