The Risk Management Problem for Year 2000 Programs

by Charles W. Bosler Jr.

Part of the culture of the software industry is that projects and programs can be very complex and are prone to embarrassing delays, budget overruns, and outright failure. Yet research has shown that most project failures could have been avoided, frequently by up- front investment in a comprehensive risk management plan. This is particularly the case with Year 2000 programs, where there is little margin for error in estimating schedules because the deadline is unmovable. The Gartner Group correctly identified the problem in January 1997, when it noted, "Planning for business continuity should be a top-level concern for enterprises, considering the potentially devastating financial and organizational impact of the disaster."

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The Risk Management Problem for Year 2000 Programs June 1998