This book investigates the critical, often overlooked economic and operational challenges inherent in the long-term maintenance of computer application software. Author Bennet P. Lientz draws upon a comprehensive survey of 487 data processing organizations to quantify the resources consumed by maintenance activities compared to initial development. By analyzing these empirical findings, the text establishes a framework for integrating maintenance planning into the broader software development lifecycle.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational study that brought necessary attention to the post-development phase of the software lifecycle. Readers frequently note that the data-driven approach provides a clear, objective baseline for understanding the hidden costs of long-term software management.