SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C.  20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13G

                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                               (Amendment No. 3)*


                       Effective Management Systems, Inc.                    
                                (Name of Issuer)

                          Common Stock, $.01 par value                       
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                  
                                 282017 10 2                      
                                 (CUSIP Number)



   *    The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
        person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject
        class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing
        information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover
        page.

   The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be
   deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities
   Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of
   that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of
   the Act (however, see the Notes).


                        (Continued on following page(s))
                                Page 1 of 6 Pages

    
  
   CUSIP No. 282017 10 2                      


     1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
         S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

         Donald W. Vahlsing       

     2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*           (a)  [_]
                                                                     (b)  [_]
         Not applicable.

     3   SEC USE ONLY


     4   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

         United States

                     5  SOLE VOTING POWER
      NUMBER OF
                             250,900
        SHARES
                     6  SHARED VOTING POWER
     BENEFICIALLY
                             0
       OWNED BY

                     7  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
         EACH

                             250,900
      REPORTING

        PERSON
                    8   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
         WITH
                             0

    9    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

              250,900


    10   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
         SHARES*                                                          [_]



    11   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

              6.2%


    12   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

              IN


                      *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
          INCLUDE BOTH SIDES OF THE COVER PAGE, RESPONSES TO ITEMS 1-7
      (INCLUDING EXHIBITS) OF THE SCHEDULE, AND THE SIGNATURE ATTESTATION.

   

   CUSIP No. 282017 10 2

   Item 1(a).     Name of Issuer:

                  Effective Management Systems, Inc.


   Item 1(b).     Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:

                  12000 West Park Place
                  Milwaukee, Wisconsin  53224


   Item 2(a).     Name of Person Filing:

                  Donald W. Vahlsing


   Item 2(b).     Address of Principal Business Office or, if none,
                  Residence:

                  12000 West Park Place
                  Milwaukee, Wisconsin  53224


   Item 2(c).     Citizenship:

                  United States


   Item 2(d).     Title of Class or Securities:

                  Common Stock, $.01 par value


   Item 2(e).     CUSIP Number:

                  282017 10 2


   Item 3.   If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b), or 13d-
             2(b), check whether the person filing is a:

             Not Applicable.


   Item 4.   Ownership.

             (a)  Amount Beneficially Owned:

                       250,900 shares

             (b)  Percent of Class:

                       6.2%

             (c)  Number of shares as to which such person has:

                  (i)  sole power to vote or to direct the vote:  

                            250,900

                  (ii) shared power to vote or to direct the vote:  

                              0


                  (iii)     sole power to dispose or to direct the
                            disposition of:   

                            250,900

                  (iv) shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition
                       of: 

                              0


   Item 5.   Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.

             Not Applicable.


   Item 6.   Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

             Not Applicable.


   Item 7.   Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which
             Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding
             Company.

             Not Applicable.


   Item 8.   Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.

             Not Applicable.


   Item 9.   Notice of Dissolution of Group.

             Not Applicable.


   Item 10.  Certification.

             Not Applicable.

   

                                    SIGNATURE

             After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
   belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is
   true, complete and correct.


   February 13, 1998 
   Date


   /s/ Donald W. Vahlsing
   Donald W. Vahlsing