| From: HYDRA::AXPDEVELOPER "[email protected]" 20-FEB-1997 10:42:07.71
To: SMTP%"[email protected]"
CC: AXPDEVELOPER
Subj: RE: millenium
Hello,
Digital is addressing the Year 2000 issue by providing consulting
services designed to help customers assess the impact on their
applications of the change in the date field in the year 2000.
The services provide both assessment and implementation phases on
applications that run on Digital systems.
If you need more info, feel free to ask.
Best Regards,
James Mikelis, Alpha Developer Support
Digital Equipment Corporation, 200 Forest St. [MR01-2/K5], Marlboro, MA 01752
Phone: +1.800.332.4786 FAX: +1.508.467.1468 [paper] (or) +1.508.467.3440 [online]
EMAIL: [email protected]
URL: http://www.partner.digital.com/www-swdev/
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Year 2000 Implementation Service Description
Introduction
Corporations must face a major technology-related business issue in the
next few years. The Year 2000 problem is a result of computer
programmers storing date information in mm/dd/yy format rather than
using a 4 digit year. This format cannot account for a century change.
For example, the years 1951 and 2051 are indistinguishable. (Both are
represented as 51.) This will cause calculations, involving dates
beyond 1999, to produce incorrect results.
How can this seemingly technical problem affect business?
o What if customer accounts appear delinquent due to invalid date
calculations? Will credit cards and utilities be shut off?
o What if sales cannot be processed due to what appears to be a past
delivery date? Will large sales be lost?
o What if 30 year mortgage payments cannot be calculated? Will real
estate transactions grind to a halt?
The Gartner Group estimates that 90 percent of business applications
will fail by the year 1999 without corrective measures. 1999 is too
late to wait to fix most programs. This issue should be tackled
immediately so there are no major impacts on business operations.
Gartner recommends all conversions be completed by year end 1997. The
alternative could be going out of business.
Digital Network and Systems Integration Services (NSIS) has developed
the Year 2000 services to ensure our customers' business applications
safely enter the next century. NSIS follows its conversion methodology
to perform the Year 2000 consulting services. This is a proven six-step
process for upgrading production systems safely. The Year 2000
Assessment service performs the first three steps of the conversion
effort. The Year 2000 Implementation service performs the last three
steps.
Service Objectives
The primary goal of this service is to fix Year 2000 problems and
validate functionality of the converted applications.
Commitment to Excellence
This service provides the Customer with a commitment from Digital to
supply expertise and resources appropriate for performing the tasks
contained in this service description. The expertise and resources are
acquired through Digital's training and development programs or through
access to Digital's technical and management methodologies. The quality
of this service is backed by the cumulative experience and abundant
resources of Digital Equipment Corporation.
Service Deliverables
Tested code that handles dates beyond 1999 properly.
Service Activities
1. Modification
Convert applications and data as determined in conversion strategy
Update required operating systems, firmware, layered products
2. Validation
Perform unit, system and integration regression tests Validate user
interfaces, application logic, interfaces, data Perform user acceptance
tests
3. Deployment
Document application changes Create rollback plan Move tested
applications to production systems
Service Scope
The scope of this service is limited to the activities outlined above.
This service does not include tasks specified in the other Digital
conversion services.
Service Duration
The duration of this service is determined by the size and complexity
of the environment to be converted.
Critical Success Requirements
The Year 2000 Assessment service, or its equivalent, should have been
completed.
The customer must provide ready access to relevant systems, networks
and applications and knowledgeable support staff personnel.
Related Services
The complete sequence of Year 2000 conversion services include:
o Year 2000 Assessment
o Year 2000 Implementation
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