ABSTRACT
The proper management of the computer facilities is not a matter of prime concern to programmers unless there is evidence of mismanagement. This may emerge in a host of ways, from the trivial, such as temporary shortage of disc space, to the catastrophic, such as total loss of a drive. No software development project can continue successfully unless there is complete assurance that the central computers are totally dependable. The role of standard operating procedures in ensuring that these routine tasks are performed correctly is just as basic in this area as in the software development arena itself. Facilities managers are strongly urged to document in a simple and concise style the basic steps involved in all routine maintenance and running of the central computer facility. Change is as much of a way of life in a hardware facility as it is in software.
