1. A method, in a data processing system, for performing data management operation comprising: identifying, by the data processing system, one or more defined groups of data elements that are a target of the data management operation; identifying, by the data processing system, one or more previously generated snapshot files associated with the one or more defined groups; determining, by the data processing system, whether at least one previously generated snapshot file of the one or more previously generated snapshot files associated with the one or more defined groups is able to be reused, wherein determining whether at least one previously generated snapshot file is able to be reused comprises: retrieving one or more expiration time variable values associated with the one or more defined groups of data elements; determining, for each previously generated snapshot file in the one or more previously generated snapshot files, whether the previously generated snapshot file is unexpired based on the retrieved one or more expiration time variable values associated with the one or more defined groups of data elements; and determining that a previously generated snapshot file in the one or more previously generated snapshot files is able to be reused in response to a determination that the previously generated snapshot file is unexpired based on the retrieved one or more expiration time variable values associated with the one or more defined groups of data elements; and performing, by the data processing system, the data management operation based on the determination of whether at least one previously generated snapshot file of the one or more previously generated snapshot files associated with the one or more defined groups is able to be reused.