Designed as a basic reference for federal personnel concerned with the development, maintenance, enhancement, control, and management of computer-based systems, this manual provides a general overview of the software development process and software documentation issues so that managers can assess their own documentation requirements. Reference is then made to relevant standards, guidelines, articles, and books that can be used to develop in-house standards, guidelines, and procedures suited to the specific development environment and task. The manual also outlines factors that managers must consider if documentation is to play its proper role in the development of computer software: (1) the component parts of software documentation; (2) how managerial guidance can ensure good documentation by the implementation of policies and procedures; and (3) the resources needed to make the managerial guidance effective. A glossary is provided, as well as appendices which contain a list of document types; policy, planning, and procedures checklists for documentation; a list of nine Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) and Guidelines publications; a list of six additional standards and guidelines publications; and a bibliography of 15 related books and other references. (JB)