A managed entity view framework and methods for obtaining configuration information, diagnostic information, and statistic information in support of operations management actions is presented. The method includes validating a managed entity viewing script template for execution on a target managed entity, retrieving target managed entity specific template parameter values, populating the managed entity viewing script template to derive a managed entity viewing script therefrom, and submitting the script for execution on the target managed entity. Managed entity viewing scripts are used to retrieve current information from corresponding target managed communications network entities whenever required. Upon receiving a trap at the NMS from a managed communications network entity, trap-directed managed entity viewing scripts are autonomously submitted for execution on the managed communications network entity to collect information for problem isolation and eventual resolution.