Abstract: A customizable element management system and method are provided. The system and method provide a flexible and customizable element management system (EMS) through the use of Universal Modeling Language (UML) models for each of the elements of the EMS. A library of base information models are provided for various application network services, network equipment, equipment adapters, and the like. Customized versions of these base information models may be generated by simply modifying one or more components of the base information model and incorporating any business logic into the base information model. The customized models may then be “plugged into” the EMS framework after having incorporated an appropriate adapter for handling translation of native protocols to an EMS standardized framework protocol.