As technology changes at an increasing rate, engineering managers are faced with the monumental task of keeping up with these technological changes, understanding how the technology affects their organisations, and making recommendations about these new technologies. This article presents an introduction to asynchronous transfer mode and LAN emulation technology. This introduction will provide engineering managers with an understanding of the technology, its applications to a variety of business settings, as well as the benefits and potential problems associated with the implementation of an ATM network.