I ran across this at another forum. Has anyone seen it? Is it legit? I can't believe their evaluation is so positive. Comments?

http://206.67.59.5/wwwboard5/messages/6973.html

(Does anyone remember which thread shows you how to hotlink? Thanks.)

-- Scarlett (ohara@tara.net), January 20, 1999

Answers

The report looks glowingly positive in the 'big picture', but then grows uncertain when it gets down to 'brass tacks'. Examples:

"...Food Service Wholesalers - Members of this category are BEGINNING THE PROCESS OF REMEDIATING their computer systems. The most important issue for them, in addition to internal MIS (including inventory management), is integration with their suppliers and customers. This industry has become increasingly automated over the last 15 years, and a FAILURE in an ordering or fulfillment system COULD CAUSE SEVERE INTERRUPTIONS in business. Contingency planning is NOT ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED and should be expanded upon..."

(The above caps are my addition) Uh oh, these companies are still in the early stages of code remediation, with no contingency plans.

"...General-Line Grocery Wholesalers - One wholesaler is notably farther along than the rest of the industry. Other companies are concentrated on their internal IS and need to focus heavily on supply chain issues with their suppliers and customers. Contingency planning is also absent from the smaller industry players' Y2K efforts..."

Uh oh, most of the grocery wholesalers don't have adequate progress on their code remediation, and don't have contingency plans.

Agricultural production is vital- distribution of the product is just as vital.

-- ecokc (ecokc@home.com), January 20, 1999.

First two paragraphs section 3 make it not a valid study:

Most of the large players in the food industry are within a relatively narrow band of progress on the COMPARE scale. Within most of the companies examined, awareness and progress are commendable. In general, remediation efforts range from not started (still completing inventory and assessment) to well underway. Almost all companies are in the process of addressing corporate information systems, but many have yet to address non-IT issues, embedded systems, and other relevant issues. During the course of 1999, it is expected that these companies will continue make progress and large portion of them will approach (if not achieve) Level IV by January 1, 2000.

The research was performed on large companies that are industry leaders. Gartner Group research has shown that the extent to which an organization is prepared for the Year 2000 is directly related to the size of the organization. Prior research shows that the level of preparedness of large companies is higher (significantly, in some cases) than that of smaller companies. In industries where the major players control only a small percent of the market (the fish industry, for example), industry-wide failure to remediate could have widespread impact.

Can you spot the basic falacy??

One of the guys who taught me systems design used to say ALL the time, "There are NO BAD solution systems, only bad assumption sets."

Have you found the falacy yet??

hint:"Gartner Group has........"

See the story ref'd in Paul Milne's post on England. RATS! I'd give you the thread but I can't find it at the moment!! And I KNOW it's here.

SEARCH ENGINE?!?!?!?!

cr

-- Chuck, night driver (rienzoo@en.com), January 20, 1999.

Folks, you have to go to this report and see it for yourself.

Scroll down to the various industries like Chicken, Beef, etc. Look to see how they address something that is automated. However, the industry you chose to read about has most likely not addressed embedded systems. Most of them haven't even started on their embedded systems.

SUMMARY: The food industry has made great y2k progress except for one minor area: automated systems (embedded chips).

"Hey honey, have you ordered those non-hybrids yet?"

-- Tomcat (tomcat@tampabay.rr.com), January 21, 1999.

(Oops--I meant "Nation's") It's late. :)

I can't believe the Gartner Group can summarize a report like this so *positively* after they've shown (in detail) how ignorant and disorganized the food industry is!

SHEESH!! It's only our food, for crying out loud! I don't need to worry about eating, do you??

-- Scarlett (ohara@tara.net), January 21, 1999.

food supply

-- z (foodsupply@wholesale.com), January 21, 1999.

Needless and frivolous hoarding? Are they out of their minds?

-- Flagirl (Flagirl@mrssurvival.zzn.com), January 21, 1999.

Think about all the things that have to be substantially compliant before the food gets to your table.

1. seed co. 2. fert. co. 3. persticide co. 4. herbicide co. 5. farm operation 6. grain storage 7. primary processing plant 8. secondary processing plant 9. wholesaler 10. retailer 11. financing for 1-10 12. transportation for 1-10 13. power/fuel/water for 1-10 14. communication for 1-10

Any questions?

-- Jane (Jane@doe.com), January 21, 1999.

I have a question.

Could the list of 14 be reduced? Like taking away # 2,3,4,8,10 and 11, at least temporarily. Could this then be viewed as an industry-wide contengency planning? The other items on the list would then be "mission critical". Focusing energy and whips on those industries.

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), January 21, 1999.

Chris,

At first blush, your idea seems sensible and maybe even viable. My second look however, convinced me that it is not. Here's why.

There's a very cruel thing done by some, shall we say "misguided", people that they consider entertainment. The process consists of tying two cats together by their tails and hanging them over a clothesline. The result is a horrible spectacle which is nothing more than a very bloody, excruciatingly painful death for both cats. Neither cat has anything to push against in an attempt to release itself except the other cat and the rear claws of each soon fatally rend the other.

To implement your idea, it seems to me, would be to put the fertilizer, persticide and herbicide companies along with the secondary processors, retailers and sources of finance on one side with the rest of society on the other. I'd bet that the attempt to survive, Y2K notwithstanding, would be just as bloody and fatal to both sides as the cat's struggle is to them.

That said, I do agree that we should not be using so much poison to grow our food nor should we be processing it so much nor should the farmer get so little of the fruits of his labor. I simply believe that we will never change the status quo without a lot of bloodshed. After all, war is what man does "best".

-- Hardliner (searcher@internet.com), January 21, 1999.