First off, please forgive my lack of "formatting." Webtv disentegrates my work when I push "send." My problem is that I have several clients that work for MAJOR IT/consulting firms, and none of them are worried about pre or post Y2K. They generally feel that we will experience some glitches, and some major inconveiences will occur at different levels around the globe. The reason for my confusion is the fact that these people are upper management and partners for these firms. They have NO reason to lie to me because we are discussing alternative investment strategies for year-end and for early 2000.They are also VERY aware of the interconnectedness of their major clients on the International forefront. They've been working for years with some of the Fortune 500 companies upgrading systems and working with vendors.I am NOT a polly,and consider myself "DGI," but have to admit confusio when speaking to these people.....can someone help?

-- keepon (vacillating@hourly.edu), August 13, 1999

Answers

upper managment does not understand IT usually. They also don't want to lose you as a customer. keep studying this thing and you will some grasp the important points needed to draw a rational conclusion for yourself.

regards,

Bob P

-- Bob P (rpilc99206@aol.com), August 13, 1999.

I haul EM's, SEM's , Partners, and managing partners around for 4 or 5 of the top 5 consulting firms in the world. The SEM's and Em's, i have opened the subject up with have asked ME to explain it. i wouldn't open the subject up with a partner or higher 'cause to them i'm just an adjunct to the car.

Chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), August 13, 1999.

keepon:

You said the operative word: "FEEL". That is exactly what many people, even IT consultants - managers, do about Y2K. I have a brother in law that works the North American Cont, for a major banking firm. But after talking with him over a period of months:

1. He feels Y2K will be OK. 2. He never works in the area of Y2K remediation, has never really looked at it, except hearing good reports at meetings.

So my bet is with a previous poster, its doubtful they've even examimned Y2K themselves (other than reports). Even if they have --- it just falls into line with the constantly conflicting reports and opinions from all sides.

We just won't "know" until it happens.

-- Jon Johnson (narnia4@usa.net), August 13, 1999.

I work for a very large IT company. Lead technologist in the organization which has the federal Y2K practice. Upper management is generally not technologists. Usually they have a marketing, finance, or customer experience background. Uninterested in Y2K except as a source of revenue. Their experience is the technologists usually save the projects, or success is redefined. They are relatively wealthy and don't feel risk. Part of the problem, not the solution. They represent the class of people whose failure to invest in fixing Y2K several years ago when we had enough time, is going to cause enterprise failures.

All of the upper management I know who are technologists and understand the problem (I know a number in a number of companies) are preparing getaways.

-- ng (cantprovideeemail@none.com), August 13, 1999.

Thank you all for your input.....I suddenly feel "normal again thanks to you.........sigh.........prepare!

Keepon

-- keepon (vacillating@hourly.edu), August 13, 1999.

Keepon:

I have to agree with others here. Upper management has no clue (in most cases) of what's involved in remediating the y2k problem. They only care about dollars. That's their world that they understand.

My world is computers. I've been in IT for 20 years and I'm terrified at what could happen during the first quarter of 2000.

I got my programs compliant, but it wasn't easy. While I was making the fixes I was constantly given new projects, slowing down my y2k work. "Oh y2k is no big deal" was what I was getting from these people. It's no big deal because I had to work my butt off to fix it the whole time management was pooh-poohing me.

The bottom line: They don't have a clue of what's involved. Continue to prepare regardless of what you hear. It's better to have and not need than to need and not have (a quote I found on this forum). This is the only recourse we have in a situation like this.

-- Larry (cobol.programmer@usa.net), August 13, 1999.