Y2k In Mexico Essay, Research Paper

Y2k: THE MILLENIUM BUG

I. What is the Problem

The twelvemonth 2000 job has resulted from the common pattern of utilizing two figures to denominate the calendar twelvemonth alternatively of utilizing four. When the twelvemonth 2000 arrives, 2 digit twelvemonth day of the months may be interpreted falsely doing many jobs. Computer hardware and package may non acknowledge & # 8220 ; 00 & # 8243 ; as an existent day of the month and will non run decently or non at all. Credit Card systems may non acknowledge & # 8220 ; 00 & # 8243 ; as a valid twelvemonth for the termination day of the month, doing minutess for those cards with & # 8220 ; 00 & # 8243 ; as the termination day of the month impossible. Day of the hebdomad computations will be away. Computers may construe 1/1/00 as Jan. 1, 1900. 1/1/1900 was a Monday but 1/1200 is a Saturday so all twenty-four hours of the hebdomad computations will be two yearss away. The range of this job is universe broad. All merchandises utilizing the two figure engineering are potentially at hazard.

The & # 8220 ; Millennium Bug & # 8221 ; could be bring failure to everything from personal computing machines, place security systems, mainframes, and telecommunications equipment. The effects of the Year 2000 job will be felt in places, concern, and authorities. Year 2000 conformance shall intend that neither public presentation nor functionality is affected by day of the months prior to, during, and after the twelvemonth 2000. & # 8221 ; Harmonizing to the British Standards Institution Committee there are four general regulations for Y2K conformity:

1. No value for current day of the months will do any break in operation.

2. Date-based functionality must act systematically for day of the months prior to, during and after the twelvemonth 2000.

3. In all interfaces and informations storage, the century in any day of the month must be specified either explicitly or by unambiguous algorithms or inferencing regulations.

4. The twelvemonth 2000 must be recognized as a leap twelvemonth. Every organic structure that deals with this job must be ready. To avoid the Y2K jobs your computing machine must foremost be checked for conformity.

Software is available that can look into your computing machine for conformity and even do your computing machine Y2k compliant. Desktop computing machines can be checked with a simple public-service corporation but larger systems and webs may necessitate more expertness to avoid the possible dangers. Many resources are available for look intoing your computing machine and to take the appropriate steps to rectify any jobs. This job is immense. Business and authorities stand to lose one million millions of dollars if the job is non corrected. Businesss are either already in conformity or in the procedure of dodging the possible catastrophe of the Y2k clang.

II. Examples of Business Sectors: Y2K Applied in the Mexican Public Sector

+ BANCO DE MEXICO

Calculating systems and information engineerings have become cardinal in production activities and mundane life. In order to forestall the Year 2000 effects on the information systems, the last June 3rd 1998, was installed the Year 2000 National Conversion Commission ( Y2K National Commission ) . This Commission has the duty of organizing the attempts of both the societal and economic sectors to do certain of the equal twelvemonth handling, and hence, the right operation in information systems during the twelvemonth 2000 and beyond. On July 9th 1998 it was published a presidential understanding which established the creative activity of the Y2K National Commission. Banco de Mexico was invited to take part in this Commission in order to organize the attempts of the fiscal sector sing to the passage of information systems. The intent of this page is to offer entree to different beginnings of information that allow users to be familiar with the Year 2000 job, and to acquire on clip fiscal sector paperss issued under the coordination of this cardinal bank with the intent of work outing the Y2K jobs.

In January 1997 the & # 8220 ; Project for Systems Compatibility Verification with the Year 2000 & # 8243 ; was established. Consequently, the Board of Governors instructed the Systems Department to transport out the coordination and supervising of the necessary alterations.

The Systems Department elaborated an initial stock list of its ain systems, inquiring the immediate alteration of the terminal user applications systems in the remainder of the countries. In add-on, the Systems Department established a semimonthly control and progress study.

In March 1998, the Board of Governors of Banco de Mexico created the Passage Year 2000 office at the Deputy Manager degree, whose end is speed uping and consolidating the advancement of the planetary plan denominated & # 8220 ; Transition 2000 & # 8243 ; .

In September 1998, the fiscal sector adopted a 5 stage self-evaluation methodological analysis proposed by the National Commission for the Year 2000 Information Technology Conversion ( Y2K National Commission ) . Banco the Mexico in his function of fiscal authorization, took this criterion of self-evaluation as a manner to give a general position of the position its internal undertaking.

In December 1998, the Institution finished the rectification and internal trial stages. During the

foremost half of 1999, the external testing will take topographic point ( Industry trial ) , every bit good as the amplification

of eventuality programs.

+ PEMEX

Since early 1997 the Year 2000 Problem has become a top precedence issue in PEMEX and its subordinate houses. This is due to the fact that for several decennaries PEMEX has been considered one of the most of import users of information engineering in our state, as a agency of for good numbering on timely and accurate informations to back up the broad scope of its concern minutess.

In malice of holding a immense array of information systems implemented throughout the Mexican Republic, there is a strong sense of consciousness in PEMEX sing the possible deductions of Y2K. Therefore, huge attempts are being carried out both in footings of information systems and automatic industrial controls in order to measure the range of the job and implement the necessary disciplinary steps, taking into consideration that the date line is immoveable.

Sing to industrial systems PEMEX has adopted a six phase scheme:

Due to the engineering trust of PEMEX & # 8217 ; s production procedures, there is besides a transition program for industrial systems, which are critical for oil concern. This program comprises six phases, the first two phases, stock list and favoritism, are already completed and the other 1s has been treating in 1999.

Because of the nature of embedded systems, PEMEX is outsourcing their Y2k transition to makers and solution planimeters, and has besides identified the chief sellers, which represent 70 % of the stock list that have to be converted.

Conversion of industrial systems is PEMEX & # 8217 ; s top precedence.

PEMEX & # 8217 ; s Board of Directors and Senior Management of Subsidiaries are wholly cognizant of Y2k deductions and hence have undertaken a comprehensive program to to the full implement and efficaciously prioritise the solution refering industrial systems and information systems. The company has assigned dedicated human resources to the Y2K undertaking and a budget has been established.

+ THE MEXICAN AVIATION SECTOR

On July 31, a successfull Y2K preparedness trial was conducted in the Mexican air power sector.

The experience involved air air power services, 6 airdromes and six Mexican commercial air hoses.

This event was alone because of the figure of air hoses, airdromes and systems tested that were involved in this experience. It has been one of the more complex that have taken topographic point so far in the commercial air power sector.

The trial was observed by some of the chief hardware and package suppliers in the air power industry in Mexico. Besides present were representatives from ICAO, IATA, FAA and Transport Canada.

Equipment on board the aeroplanes and airdrome aeronautical services simulated the rollover to the Year 2000 during flight.

The experience involved the following air hoses and paths:

Airline Aircraft Route

-Aerom xico MD-88 Guadalajara-Mexico City

-Aeromexpress B-727 Mexico City-Hermosillo

-Aerolitoral M3 Le n-Mexico City

-Mexicana de

Aviaci n A-320 Puerto Vallarta-Mexico City

-TAESA B-727-300 Mexico City-Mexico City

-AEROCARIBE J32 Minatitl n-Mexico City

The trials involved the undermentioned countries:

+ Communicationss

+ Navigation

+ Surveillance

+ Automation

Different systems ere tested in different paths. For illustration, on the Guadalajara-Mexico City path, the following systems were tested:

+ Data processing systems, radio detection and ranging and flight program

+ Digital communications processing system

+ Aeronautical communications systems

+ Trials of air hose operational systems

+ SEP

The Ministry of Public Education has an informatic platform comparatively modern of equiping and application plans of Institutional usage, that allows them to anticipate in a general manner, that the impact of the induction of the Y2K that the Institutional information systems will be manageable and comparatively easy to decide.

The technological features allows them to do such a statement are:

+ Major computing machine equipment platform, where the existent systems run of Institutional usage that consist of RISC architectural computing machines under UNIX operative system ; which reduces the possibilities to obtain process mistakes

caused by ancient computing machine architectures, that present hazards when utilizing ingoing/outgoing basic systems ( BIOS ) with the ticker information, that do non back up the Y2K impact, as it does in some platforms with other features ( architectural CISC Intel ) .

+ The package for the handling of footing of Institutional informations ( Informix, Sybase ) , include dynamic day of the month types of informations, that support the Y2K impact while hive awaying old ages utilizing digital engineering.

Similarly, the organisation of the information in relational tabular arraies of content, facilitate the eventual alteration of the information Fieldss in contrast to more ancient mechanisms of organisation of information ( consecutive index files ) .

The development tools and the methodological analysis of analysis and design usage in the building of the most ground information systems every bit good as those that are in the procedure of development assure hardiness of the systems to defy the Y2K impact.

On history of its nature, the most delicate institutional system, the Integral System for the Administration of Personnel of the Ministry of Public Education ( SIAPSEP ) , in operation since 1994, was designed in such a mode that the day of the month Fieldss and the computations that involve the same, digest the impact mentioned when redesign in Fieldss of four figures for the information stored for old ages.

However, its necessary to detect that a great sum of application plans exist in several countries of the Ministry that are non of generalised Institutional usage and can show procedure jobs during the alteration of the century. In peculiar, information systems exist that shop RFC type Fieldss, in which two figures exist and extra mention exists over the birth twelvemonth.

Such instances are non critical because the day of the month does non organize portion of any logical or arithmetic operation, however, its necessary to hold a day of the month mention for the right reading of the information for which an activities plan must be integrated so as to able to observe and rectify those informatic instances.

III. Mexican Company & # 8217 ; s Preparation: Y2k in Mexico & # 8217 ; s Private Sector

+ VITRO

To accomplish this, Grupo Vitro created in 1997 the Vitro Y2K Office, in charge of all affairs related to the job of the bend of the century. The chief function of Vitro Y2K Office is:

1. To maintain the organisation focused, so that the Y2K issue is for good included in the dockets of the full Grupo Vitro.

2. To reason successfully the Year 2000 Business Processes Program ( Y2K ) .

The Office is formed by a squad of professionals giving 100 % of their clip to the solution of the job of the twelvemonth 2000, and a Y2K Guide Committee, integrated by the Corporate Directors who provide services and/or define guidelines for operative countries, and are involved in any facet of the Y2K job, and whose chief function is to supply direct support to all Y2K leaders to guarantee success for the plan.

The Y2K Program has a broad span, since it considers our minutess with providers, clients, Bankss, concern spouses and establishments. In Grupo Vitro we are cognizant of the magnitude and complexness of this job, since we are merely one nexus in the supply concatenation and we are witting of the fact that no company, by itself, can vouch success in this tremendous undertaking.

+ TELMEX

The twelvemonth 2000 passage will dispute the expertness and capableness of organisations to get by with complex proficient jobs with several degrees of operative interactions. TELMEX is cognizant and ready to confront this challenge. In January of 1999, TELMEX will be finished with solution execution stage of its Y2K undertaking, at which point TELMEX & # 8217 ; s systems related to the continuity and quality of service will be to the full compliant and operational.

Committednesss and duties for TELMEX in sight of the twelvemonth 2000 passage are governed by the proper footings of its commercial relationships and contracts with its clients, as a provider of telecommunications services, to transport out its regular activities.

The Y2K undertaking is based around a 4 stage theoretical account designed for conveying a multi-faceted and technologically complex company into conformity on clip. These stages include designation, solution development, joint operations proving, and preparation of eventuality programs. Both IT and Non-IT systems have been included in this procedure. A more elaborate description of each of these stages follows.

The Y2K undertaking is based around a 4 stage theoretical account designed for conveying a multi-faceted and technologically complex company into conformity on clip. These stages include designation, solution development, joint operations proving, and preparation of eventuality programs. Both IT and Non-IT systems have been included in this procedure. A more elaborate description of each of these stages follows.

+ CEMEX

On the threshold of the new millenary, CEMEX is committed to set abouting every attempt necessary to carry on concern as usual through the twelvemonth 2000 and beyond. Although the Year 2000 bug originated as a technology- related job, we recognize that its effects extend into multiple concern countries, both within and outside our company. That is why we are nearing the Year 2000 job as a critical company-wide concern issue ; non merely a technological one.

In January 1997 we launched CEMEX 2000, a company-wide plan to go Year 2000 compliant, non merely for information engineering, but besides for our drawn-out concern web. As portion of the plan, CEMEX has implemented a uninterrupted follow-up program to supervise the advancement of the important sellers, clients and concern spouses.

This plan aims to get the better of and even capitalise on the engineering issues that the twelvemonth 2000 nowadayss. By upgrading and replacing our information engineering worldwide, we are non merely doing attempts to guarantee that we will be making concern through the new millenary, but that we will be making concern better.

Since engineering is an built-in concern constituent of CEMEX, the CEMEX 2000 Program is a planetary, company-wide attempt. It is wining through the combined attempts of every concern unit of the company, from top degree executives to works directors to proficient, technology and corporate support services sections.

1. Planning ; In this stage the following are defined: the plan & # 8217 ; s direction construction, the programming of activities, the work squad, resource and budget allotment, quality confidence scheme and the overall ends of the plan.

2. Analysis ; In this stage the range of the job is defined and the elements where CEMEX could be affected by the Year 2000 issue are identified. Dynamic concern impact analyses are carried-out through and stock list of Year 2000 sensitive elements

3. Solution Design ; In this stage the scheme for accomplishing Year 2000 conformity is defined, and a province of-the-art proving installation named SITE 200 is created.

4. Conversion ; This stage includes the rectification or replacing of

those elements that might impact CEMEX & # 8217 ; s concern operations, giving precedence to

those that represent a higher impact on operations.

5. Certification ; The Year 2000 conformity procedure takes topographic point on the SITE 2000, where an thorough built-in credence proving process is conducted. The procedure of enfranchisement is completed one time all alteration points are passed.

6. Execution ; This stage includes the terminal user credence testing and execution of the Y2K compliant system in every CEMEX concern unit, office and works around the universe.

7. Quality Assurance and Follow-up ; This stage includes the alteration of the critical elements which represent concern hazard by the Year 2000, the certification of the corresponding eventuality programs and the readying of immediate response work squads who will be supervising the operation of the concern processes during the passage period and on critical day of the months.

IV. Decisions

Mexico has been working on Y2K in most of its public sectors, and is to an extent actualized and ready to confront the millenium bug. We could likely impute this to political force per unit areas, specially coming from the United States.

In the other manus, I was merely able to cover a few of the large powerful companies in Mexico, but in general most of them have a specialized section dedicated specifically to cover with the twelvemonth 2000 job. For them it & # 8217 ; s truly of import to work on the present job due to the complexness and size of this companies, and besides because this are planetary companies that can non take a opportunity in destroying their well developed image and systems.

The job fundamentally remains in the little and average concerns, every bit good as in personal computing machines. Mexico & # 8217 ; s authorities has established a section to assist the population update their ain hardware and package, but still these people has to actively take part in updating their equipment.

Finally, I & # 8217 ; vitamin Ds like to reason stating that the proficient job is already fixed ; but the existent job relays in the people & # 8217 ; s attitude towards the job. If people feel insecure and get down taking their money from bank histories or making things like that, so a existent crisis will happen worldwide. So the lone thing left to make is updating our ain concerns and personal computing machines, and rest still swearing that what of all time processs were taken to confront the millenium bug job will work out.

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