<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF EFFECTIVE  MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS,  INC. AS OF
AND FOR THE YEAR ENDED  NOVEMBER  30, 1998 AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              NOV-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 DEC-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   NOV-30-1998
<CASH>                                         21
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  13,297
<ALLOWANCES>                                   506
<INVENTORY>                                    275
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               13,818
<PP&E>                                         9,913
<DEPRECIATION>                                 6,711
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 24,160
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          19,428
<BONDS>                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    1,411
<COMMON>                                       41
<OTHER-SE>                                     2,180
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   24,160
<SALES>                                        1,745
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               39,144
<CGS>                                          1,386
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  49,147
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               587
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             714
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (10,590)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (10,590)
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (10,590)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  (2.59)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  (2.59)