IT Groups Unite Over Y2000

The Computer Services and Software Association (CSSA) has joined forces with the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) to draw up a plan to solve the year 2000 problem.

Both organisations have approached trade ministers from 29 member nations of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), urging them to implement a five-point plan ? The Year 2000 Survival Plan ? which addresses the task of converting all computer programs so they can deal with the millennium date change.

Rob Wirszycz, director general of the CSSA, said: ?This is the first time that there has been a concerted common position on this issue.?

He added that this scheme was not just focused on corporates but dealers as well. According to Wirszycz, dealers should see the year 2000 as a business opportunity for them to put a scheme into operation.

He said it was getting too late for all systems to be changed, as they would have to be implemented by the end of 1998, so it is important for companies to prioritise and identify critical systems, ensuring plans are in place to fix them.

The CSSA is providing a directory of vendors offering year 2000 services. It has also assembled a database providing information from suppliers about software products that will handle the date change.

OECD ministers met in Paris last week to discuss policy recommendations focusing on IT issues, including the year 2000.