Balancing the ex-Bell system companies : Changing the centre of gravity

The ex-Bell System companies have upstream centres of gravity with a production/operations orientation in the telecommunications industry supply chain, just as AT&T had prior to divestiture. The new environment suggests that they should change to a more downstream centre of gravity with a stronger marketing orientation. AT&T, the regional Bell operating companies and the local exchange carriers are taking various innovative actions to start moving in that direction. However, all of the ex-Bell System companies face serious internal and external impediments to making successful changes in their centre of gravity. An organizational resizing strategy can address those impediments in effecting the desired shift.