Lessons from the Y2K Bug Park

Last year, Government bugbuster Action 2000 designated 15 businesses in Welwyn Garden City as its test-case 'bug park'. Regular audits tracking Y2K compliance have revealed significant progress, as well as a few problems.

Consistent themes include planning, and specifically the need to ensure sufficient time is available for the work required. A number of companies now say they would have been better off starting the process sooner.

Testing has also tended to be under-estimated, especially in terms of the need to be systematic and establish a fully documented trail.

Identifying, contacting and receiving adequate assurances from all parts of a company's supply chain has also proven to be an ongoing challenge.

Underlying some of these problems, at least in part, is the nagging suspicion that the whole issue may be a bit over-hyped.

Elliott Chase