Abstract: A resource management system for an intelligent communications network having one or more distributed service nodes, each service node for providing services relating to an event received at a network resource associated with a service node. The system provides a look-ahead routing function enabling instantiation of service object instances at any service node in said intelligent network based on service types available at the service node in said network, an associated capability status indicating whether a requested service is available for instantiation at a service node and is currently active; and, a status of an execution environment capable of executing service object instances at each service node. Mechanisms are employed for instantiating service instances according to an implemented business strategy, e.g., load balancing.