If that number's right, half the small businesses got it right, and the other half wasted time and money on Y2K compliance.
"...approximately half of the small businesses in the U.S., England, and various other countries (a) have not yet begun any efforts to achieve Y2K compliance, and (b) don't plan to do so until they see what "breaks" after January 1, 2000."The Y2K End Game by Ed Yourdon, September 7, 1999
But Yourdon's estimate was probably low... Pointy-Haired Bosses tend to work for large corporations, and only Pointy-Haired Bosses listen to fear-mongers like Ed Yourdon.
Yes, billions were spent. And yes, there are those who claim Y2K preparations are the reason there weren't any problems... as if spending by some eliminated problems for all (Remember January 1, 2000? nothing happened, anywhere, to anyone, prepared or otherwise.)
It's been 12 years since Ed Yourdon shouted his final warnings and fled into the desert, never to be heard from again.
But it wasn't just Ed Yourdon who shut up, everyone stopped talking about Y2K, especially those who spent the most money. And when no one talks about a mistake, no one learns from it.
And when no one learns from a mistake...
...it will happen again.
...if it isn't happening already.
Next week: Clive Thompson
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