OVERVIEW

Successful execution of a data management project is dependent on the level of planning that goes into it. Whether using a commercial database management system (DBMS), purchasing data and/or a DBMS from a vendor, or building a proprietary system, one must allow for a considerable amount of preproject planning. This chapter deals with the total project design, including setting the overall project objectives, selecting appropriate DBMS applications, and defining the project scope.

In addition to investigating hardware and software issues, we explore the role of the end user and how critical it is to involve the end users in the planning, development, and appraisal of the data management project. Other issues, such as inter-application data transfer and data storage problems, are introduced and discussed.