Date of Award
1997
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Business Administration
Department
Business
First Advisor
Gary Gardiner
Second Advisor
Joe Ancona
Third Advisor
Jan Kniffen
Abstract
This thesis will focus on the year 2000 computer glitch and the impact it will have on corporations and their data processing systems.
From the 1950s through the 1980s, data storage for computers was expensive, so computer programmers routinely saved two bytes of memory by dropping the prefix 19 from the continuous date function. Thus, the year 2000 will bring a switch in the year indicator from 99 to 00. The business implications of this seemingly trivial technical event are potentially devastating. The simplest date comparison or arithmetic calculation could fail. It will foul up date critical calculation for loans, bills, payroll, forecasts, insurance, personnel records and anywhere dates are calculated.
It is estimated that ninety percent of the companies in the United States will be affected by this problem. Many businesses are making the mistake of regarding this issue as a technical problem rather than a business imperative.
The purpose of this research is to determine whether corporations will realize that the year 2000 computer glitch is an important issue and come to that realization before it disrupts their business.
Analysis of the data produced plenty of evidence suggesting the hypothesis be accepted and concluded that many companies will not be year 2000 compliant by January l , 2000. Their systems will not function properly, which could lead to the generation of reams of erroneous data. It will not be business as usual.
Recommended Citation
Diggs, Michael O., "The Impact of the Year 2000 Date Change on Corporations and Their Computer Systems" (1997). Theses. 633.
https://digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu/theses/633
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