Two approaches to the high cost of maintaining an information system include outsourcing and restructuring. The Datamation article, "Outsource Your Maintenance Migraines" by Deborah Ashbrand (www.datamation.com/servc/06out.html), explains why and how it can be cost-effective to outsource information system maintenance tasks. Another Datamation article, "Death by Development" by Peter Vogel (www.datamation.com/netmg/Thinkwrap_960315.html), explains why it might be advantageous to rethink the division between IS development and maintenance personnel.

Many maintenance responsibilities fall on the shoulders of the systems operator. To find out if you might like this job, connect to stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos128.htm or www.tcm.org/html/resources/cmp-careers/cnc-operator.html.

For an overview of how maintenance activities fit into the overall IS department, connect to www.blackmagic.com/ses/bruceg/sysadm.html and read "Sample System Administrator Manual" by Bruce C. Gabrielson.