This manual has six objectives. A. Establish a framework for managing the life of major application systems. B. Establish control mechanisms to effectively develop, acquire, evaluate, operate, and maintain application systems at the lowest total overall costs. C. Ensure that an application system is responsive to user needs by requiring user participation and approval of all phases of the life cycle. D. Identify individual roles and responsibilities throughout the life cycle.
Management is accountable for the success or failure of application system actions.
E. Identify all resource requirements related to an application system for its entire life cycle. F. Avoid developing unneeded systems by completing mission analysis before authorizing major application system development projects. The standards in this manual apply to major application systems in the Department of Agriculture. This includes development, acquisition and major system enhancements. These standards do not apply to applications already under development.