Topics in network and service management

This is the 12th issue of the series on Network and Ser vice Management, which is typically published twice a year. It was originally published in April and October but since last year it is published in July and December. The series provides articles on the latest developments in this well established discipline, highlighting recent research achieve ments and providing insight into both theoretical and practical issues related to the evolution of the discipline from different perspectives. The series provides a forum for the publication of both academic and industrial research, addressing the state of the art, theory, and practice in network and service man agement.