ABSTRACT
Implementation is the final and most difficult phase of the planning process. The results of political planning, demand estimation, and software decisions are neat memos and policy statements. The result of implementing those plans is the day-to-day functioning of a computer system. Implementation converts the ideals of the planners to the realities of the vendors, budgets, staff, and users. The foremost decision will be the one concerning administrative and academic priorities. Any conflicts between the two will be resolved in favor of the administration's needs. As both faculty and staff increase their usage, academic work will suffer because items like payroll and registration will always take precedence over research and student instruction. Once the system has started operations, the process of review and evaluation begin. The system's performance must be viewed in terms of both long-term and immediate goals. The long-term goals can only be met by anticipating. The user population will probably grow, and its needs will change.
