This forwards the result of my research on year 2000 problem as one of the most controversial issues toward the next millennium in the field of computer and business. In the current business situation, computer (Information System) is considered as the forth-biggest business resources after human, material, and capital resources. This year 2000 problem, which is dubbed Y2K problem, might either cause a great deal of damage to the whole world or cause nothing; no one knows exactly what is going to happen. Although, there are some people who believe Y2K problem is not a big deal, through my research, I would prefer to take a position that Y2K problem brings us something negative impact in terms of social, political, and economic aspects. To overcome this problem, which may not occur, we can at least prepare and cooperate each other to avoid accepting the miserable scenario.

Basically, Y2K problem is very simple problem that some of the computers were not programmed to read the new millennium year 2000. The cause is derived from that commonly the computers use "mm/dd/yy" format to address the date, thus, January 27, 1900 is stored exactly the same as January 27, 2000, therefore, some computers, especially the old computer systems, cannot process the date properly. During the 60s�Eto the 80s�E when the computers were installed, it was technically difficult to process and storage a great amount of date, and it was nearly impossible to install highly expensive memory and hard drive. The another causes are derived from that system engineers were not aware of Y2K problem at that time and they didn’t expect the system would be used until the year 2000.

Then, what might be likely to happen? The following lists are the examples that might be affected by Y2K problem.

• Manufacturing and process control

• Transport: vehicles and infrastructure (includes Oil, Gas and Electronic utilities)

• Buildings (includes Elevators) and premises

• Communications

• Office and retail services and equipment

• Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system controls

• Services and many other facilities supplied by contractors

These examples are associated with embedded systems, which are made of silicon integrated circuits with time sensitive logic. This embedded systems, entered the mass media through a recent Newsweek cover article on the year 2000, are spread all over the world, hence, it is impossible to fix all of them. Here, I have to mention that there are two positions toward the way to understand these embedded systems; one is embedded systems will cause some problems according to Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE), and other is embedded systems will not cause a great problems according to CNET. It is very difficult to decide which is accurate, however, both of them agree with that Y2K bug is so widespread that every business and organization will have to allocate some resources toward a fix.

Since there are so many myths or rumors such as Y2K problem will lead the whole economy to the deep recession or there is no Y2K problem, I would like to mention some facts that had already happened.

• A one hundred-year old woman living in Minnesota State got a invitation of enrollment from a local kindergarten due to the computer error.

• In Unum Life Insurance Co. computer system, after one of the computer processed "00" as 1900, hundreds of record from financial report database were deleted.
• In Amway Corp. computer system, because the expiration date was recognized at the year 1900, a series of chemicals were rejected as defects by the network.

These problems imply a piece of the big problem that might happen in January 2000. Despite whether or not Y2K problem will cause us a huge negative impact, it is true that some problems related to Y2K bug had already happened. For every institution using computer system in the world, the cost of checking, replacing, and fixing Y2K problem is not a small amount of money, however, the time is definitely running out. Even if this expenditure will not produce any productive add-value to the companies, it is much better than preparing for nothing.

Clausing, Jeri. "Federal Reserve Official Warns of Year 2000 Bug." New York Times. 29 April 29 1998. (20 January 1999).

"Free talk toward the year 2000 problem" Nikkei BP. (22 January 1999)

Rosoff, Matt. "Digital Life �E8 myths about the millennium bug." CNET Features. 10 October 1997. (22 January 1999)

"The Millennium Problem in Embedded Systems." The Institution of Electrical Engineers. 25 September 1998. (22 January 1999).