Abstract: A management system has a hierarchical structure of interconnected management authorities controlling communication network resources. The system also includes user interfaces. Each authority has a number of agents which communicate internally with other agents and externally with other agents in a uniform manner using KQML semantics. Agents may be intelligent or simply reactive. Generally, reactive agents are located within a platform part of an authority and intelligent agents are located within the controlling part of an authority. Agents within the controlling part are grouped into functional components to provide FCAPS functionality.