To the reader, this publication may appear to have been prepared soley to provide guidance for companies doing business with the Department of Defense (DoD). Such is not the case. The DoD, as the largest procurer of data, has the greatest number of regulations governing the acquisition of data, and, therefore, presents the most problems to the data provider. However, principles which apply to all data acquisitions and their implementation can be tailored to satisfy various customers.

The present day world of technical advancement sees increasing demands for recorded information. This documentation provides a means for communicating technical ideas, presents plans for developing them, gives instructions to those who will build, operate and service hardware, records the results of technical performance tests and evaluation, and provides visibility for managing technical and business aspects that are necessary to assure program success. As the volume of recorded information has increased, there has been a growing effort to limit, organize, improve, and control the recorded information. this effort has resulted in customer requirements for a separately identified activity that has been given the label of Data Management.