The Implied Logic STEM modelling system is a software platform for the development of financial models of telecoms networks, services and businesses. Using STEM, the financial implications of alternative scenarios and strategies can be assessed and compared. STEM allows users to understand, and present to others, the consequences, risks and opportunities of particular strategies and the robustness of each under a variety of circumstances. STEM is pre-programmed with standard telecoms and finance calculations which, together with an easy-to-use Windows interface, facilitate the rapid development of models and give the user greater confidence in the accuracy of results; a considerable improvement over the use of large, complex spreadsheet models.
STEM is licensed to a variety of telecoms operators and vendors, and a security key (dongle) is required in order to run a conventional STEM model. However, some licensees have a premium facility to export ‘run-time’ models which can then be run without a dongle, and to distribute a special run-time version of the STEM software.
In general, the structure and assumptions of a run-time model can be viewed in the STEM Editor and the results can be reviewed with the STEM Results program. Moreover, subject to options chosen by the original licensee, certain inputs may be changed and the model re-run to produce another set of results. A non-licensed user cannot, however, create a new run-time model, nor modify the structure of an existing run-time model.
Note: A run-time model may not be viewable in the STEM Editor, for example if the model structure or assumptions are confidential. Such a model is probably designed to be run from Microsoft Excel – see 7.3.6 Running STEM from Excel.
In order to run the software, you must have a PC running Microsoft Windows XP, Windows 2000 or Windows NT, and you must have at least 15Mb of free disk space. Along with the model itself, the registered STEM user should have sent you all the binary files required to run it. To install run-time STEM, simply copy all these files to a suitable directory. You may wish to create shortcuts to the STEM Model Editor (ed.exe) and the Results program (results.exe) in your Windows Start menu.
When you first run STEM, by starting the Editor, the model which you have been sent will be opened. Thereafter you can open any run-time STEM model by selecting Open from the File menu of the Editor and entering or selecting the name of the file, e.g.,
mobile (STEM automatically adds a .dtl file extension).