ABSTRACT
Once the data management system has been implemented, the work is just starting. The cost of ongoing data management activities, in time and/or financial outlay, will usually exceed the implementation cost of the system, at least if the system is used for any significant period of time. These activities should be taken into account in calculating the total cost of ownership over the lifetime of the system. When this calculation is made, it may turn out that a feature in the software that appears expensive up-front may actually cost less over time relative to the labor required by not having the feature. Also, these ongoing activities must be both planned for and then performed as part of the process if the system is expected to be a success. These activities include managing the workflow, managing the data, and administering the system. Many of these activities are described in more detail later in this book.
