The systems, methods, and means described herein are designed to promote the efficient and prompt approval of proposed changes to a network and the effective implementation of customer notification of those proposed changes among other things. Specifically, the systems, methods, and means described herein include steps for creating a change plan that comprises instructions that meet minimum requirements about how a change is to be performed, organizing a change into one of a plurality of change categories based on the nature of the change to be performed, providing said change plan to affected entities for approval, and implementing said change plan after said approval has been provided. In carrying out these steps, the change category provides rules about who should be selected as affected entities, how the affected entities should be notified of the change, and the structure that should be utilized for organizing the change.