POLICE MANAGERS SHOULD HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURE OF THE DATA-PROCESSING SYSTEM THAT EXISTS OR ARE BEING DEVELOPED IN THEIR DEPARTMENTS AND SHOULD ALSO BE AWARE OF FACTORS INFLUENCING THE SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT PROCESS. IMPORTANT FACTORS INCLUDE THE COMPLEXITY OF THE SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT TASK, THE IMPORTANCE OF THE REQUIREMENTS ANALYSIS, OPTIONS FOR TRANSFERRING SYSTEMS FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS, THE IMPACT OF SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT ON PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS, AND THE NEED FOR PROJECT PLANNING AND MONITORING PARTICIPATION BY POLICE MANAGEMENT. OTHER FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED INCLUDE RESISTANCE TO CHANGE AMONG PERSONNEL; USER TRAINING; DIALOGUE AMONG POLICE PERSONNEL, POLICE MANAGEMENT, AND DATA-PROCESSING MANAGEMENT; THE CONCEPT OF THE SYSTEM LIFE CYCLE; AND THE VALUE OF HAVING A SYSTEM ANALYST ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT STAFF. IT IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT THAT POLICE MANAGEMENT HAVE A BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT PROCESS WHEN THAT PROCESS IS UNDERTAKEN BY A DATA-PROCESSING DEPARTMENT THAT SERVES ALL COMPONENTS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT. (LKM)