Powerful lessons learned that we can apply to this actual pandemic.
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1 reply by Peter de Jager
Aug 16, 2020 9:43 AM
Peter de Jager
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Lots of lessons are there - the challenge is to apply them. Key lesson? A consistent message - we have a potential problem - if you have it in your systems (you need to check) - and if it's significant (you have to do the analysis of your systems) - then you need to fix it by date 'X' (Unique to your systems and determined by analysis)
One thing we had on our side with Y2K was the lack of deliberate misinformation, conspiracy, and the amplification of non-expert controversial opinions that we see so much of today. I wonder if we would have been able to get the same level of unity and traction that we achieved in 1999 if we had to undertake something of the same scale today.
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1 reply by Peter de Jager
Aug 16, 2020 9:57 AM
Peter de Jager
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Y2K happened at the 'start' of the internet and we didn't have twitter/Facebook etc. We certainly used the internet to manage the global project and it didn't get in the way.
Today? It would be a different scenario.
We DID have some misinformation start to spread in 1998-1999 timeframe. One in particular comes to mind... The Y2K Pentagon Papers... a document that consisted of worst case scenarios as an aid in contingency planning for the Pentagon. This was created as SCENARIO planning.
It was touted by by some as predictions being made by the government about what WOULD happen and hidden from view.
The reality is that it was freely available and not difficult to find.
One thing that Y2K did NOT have, that Covid-19 suffers from, is the politicization of the issue. Y2K remained a technical problem with support from all parties. I have letters of thanks from both sides of the house for the efforts made to get attention on the issue.
Today? well... we have enough to deal with without imagining additional frustrating scenarios.
Be safe.
Peter
Saving Changes...
Peter de JagerProfessional Speaker| de Jager & Co LtdBrampton, Ontario, Canada
Aug 14, 2020 6:34 PM
Replying to Verónica Elizabeth Pozo Ruiz
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Powerful lessons learned that we can apply to this actual pandemic.
Lots of lessons are there - the challenge is to apply them. Key lesson? A consistent message - we have a potential problem - if you have it in your systems (you need to check) - and if it's significant (you have to do the analysis of your systems) - then you need to fix it by date 'X' (Unique to your systems and determined by analysis) Saving Changes...
Peter de JagerProfessional Speaker| de Jager & Co LtdBrampton, Ontario, Canada
Aug 16, 2020 12:35 AM
Replying to John McIntyre
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One thing we had on our side with Y2K was the lack of deliberate misinformation, conspiracy, and the amplification of non-expert controversial opinions that we see so much of today. I wonder if we would have been able to get the same level of unity and traction that we achieved in 1999 if we had to undertake something of the same scale today.
Y2K happened at the 'start' of the internet and we didn't have twitter/Facebook etc. We certainly used the internet to manage the global project and it didn't get in the way.
Today? It would be a different scenario.
We DID have some misinformation start to spread in 1998-1999 timeframe. One in particular comes to mind... The Y2K Pentagon Papers... a document that consisted of worst case scenarios as an aid in contingency planning for the Pentagon. This was created as SCENARIO planning.
It was touted by by some as predictions being made by the government about what WOULD happen and hidden from view.
The reality is that it was freely available and not difficult to find.
One thing that Y2K did NOT have, that Covid-19 suffers from, is the politicization of the issue. Y2K remained a technical problem with support from all parties. I have letters of thanks from both sides of the house for the efforts made to get attention on the issue.
Today? well... we have enough to deal with without imagining additional frustrating scenarios.
Be safe.
Peter Saving Changes...
Peter RapinSubject Matter Expect; Project Delivery| Independent ConsultantOntario, Canada
Let's be honest here - The Y2K issue did not have the personal tragedy aspect. Yes, it could have in worst case scenarios but there were no daily mortality numbers to feed the panic. Y2K was primarily a corporate/economic threat.
I suppose if all essential computers had failed at the same time we would have had the nuclear effect but that was a long shot. Covid-19 is more comparable to conventional warfare where there are daily body counts.
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1 reply by Peter de Jager
Aug 18, 2020 10:33 AM
Peter de Jager
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Greetings Peter, we're not in disagreement here. With the exception of a few predictions made at the very end of the spectrum of Y2K hype? It was never possible for Y2K failures to come anywhere near the damage and grief caused by Covid-19.
Anyone who says they are comparable in that regard is simply wrong.
The parallels are in how we're communicating, or failing to communicate, a consistent message about the risks.
As I've been putting my podcast together I first hesitated to make the connection because I essentially agreed with you - there is no comparison between the two issues. Yet? In interview after interview the comparison of how the two issues were discussed kept coming up. That Koskinen chose to write about this, doesn't surprise me considering the same topic was explored when I interviewed him.
Be safe
Peter
Saving Changes...
Peter de JagerProfessional Speaker| de Jager & Co LtdBrampton, Ontario, Canada
Aug 17, 2020 5:26 PM
Replying to Peter Rapin
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Let's be honest here - The Y2K issue did not have the personal tragedy aspect. Yes, it could have in worst case scenarios but there were no daily mortality numbers to feed the panic. Y2K was primarily a corporate/economic threat.
I suppose if all essential computers had failed at the same time we would have had the nuclear effect but that was a long shot. Covid-19 is more comparable to conventional warfare where there are daily body counts.
Greetings Peter, we're not in disagreement here. With the exception of a few predictions made at the very end of the spectrum of Y2K hype? It was never possible for Y2K failures to come anywhere near the damage and grief caused by Covid-19.
Anyone who says they are comparable in that regard is simply wrong.
The parallels are in how we're communicating, or failing to communicate, a consistent message about the risks.
As I've been putting my podcast together I first hesitated to make the connection because I essentially agreed with you - there is no comparison between the two issues. Yet? In interview after interview the comparison of how the two issues were discussed kept coming up. That Koskinen chose to write about this, doesn't surprise me considering the same topic was explored when I interviewed him.
