Year 2000 Chairman message
Emergency *

By Guy de PANAFIEU, Chairman and CEO of Bull

?The Year 2000 transition is now recognized as an enormous worldwide problem for enterprises and public administrations and for society as a whole. Millions of information systems and billions of "embedded" systems in everything from elevators to airplanes are potentially at risk. This recognition was slow in coming because it is the first crisis of its kind in history. For the first time, a complex technological environment will run the risk of failure around the world in a short time frame.

Opinions differ widely, however, as to the consequences. In terms of impact on the global economy, some experts have predicted a worldwide contraction similar to that caused by the 1973-74 oil crisis. Others have estimated the impact at no more than one-tenth of 1% of global production. For enterprises, the impact may range from minor inconvenience to major business disruption, depending not only on the readiness of each company but also on the readiness of its trading partners and financial institutions.

In most companies, of course, senior managers are aware of the importance - and especially of the costs - of preparing for a successful turn of the century transition. The articles and interviews with international experts which follow will help complete that understanding. However I would like to draw your attention to a key business issue addressed in these pages where senior management must necessarily take charge. That issue is contingency planning sometimes known as "What if?" planning - to ensure business continuity.

In virtually every company, some failures will probably occur. What will the company do if the customer order handling system fails for a week or if "just-in-time" procurement programs are unavailable for even a few days? Plans must be developed to define alternative procedures and mobilize IT and operational staff Senior executives may need to be mobilized in the event of serious disruption, in order to make major business decisions quickly.

In any event, Year 2000 is much more than a technical problem for IT professionals - it is a major business issue for senior management....?

* Extract from the Bull publication 'Management & Information Systems'  issued in April 1999.