This is interesting.
(Cut and paste url below directly into your browser address box as the SI abbreviated link will not work. Prefix with http:// of course.)
ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/roleigh_martin/end_game_critique.htm
I like this part even if it is melodramatic:
From IEEE Y2K Chair Personal Critique of Ed Yourdon's "End Game" Essay
by Dale Way
October 28, 1999
>>>...If an organization goes off half-cocked, without complete, detailed knowledge of how its ‘system of systems' works altogether in all normal and possible abnormal situations, as the vast majority of remediators have done, yet make wholesale changes as if it did have that knowledge, they are doomed to failure unless it had many more years than the three of four most organizations have been at it. (Some agencies of the U.S. government were not being fallacious when they first said they would be ready as late as 2014. They were just being honest. Of course, that "politically unacceptable" response was quickly squelched.) It would be better for the whole world if this could be admitted. Then non-technical contingency planning would have the urgency at all levels of society it deserves. But technical management and the Y2Klatura collectively do not have the brains or the guts to do that DEFINITIVELY. We will hew to our baseless confidence or pussyfoot around the obvious until the end. Collectively we are going to drive the ship right into the iceberg and not say anything until the screaming starts and then claim we did all we could to make everything compliant. We will burn in Hell.
EPILOG
If this sounds harsh, it is only what history has in store for us, the self-appointed Y2Klatura. For we have taken it upon ourselves to define the problem and the solution. We have allowed or encouraged civilians to believe we knew how to handle it. We have buried our own doubts or mealy-mouthed them to the extent we allowed others to believe what was most comfortable for them. Though we have often ranted, we have allowed apologists and scare-mongers to each have their audience. We have given little to leaders that they can use on their terms in their world. We ourselves have been wrong about much. We have not examined ourselves nearly as much as we are demanding others examine themselves. We, too, have believed our own PR. It is time to make amends and do more to undo the damage we have inflicted. Until we do that we cannot expect others to trust us. Rollover/End is a dangerous anthropomorphism that mischaracterizes and misdirects, Compliance the siren song that calls us to the rocks. Other concepts more firmly grounded must be embraced. Other things more firmly grounded must be done.<<<
As the title indicates, this is supposedly a critique of Yourdon's "End Game" essay. There's obviously another agenda at work here and a definite message. Reading between these lines should prove one interesting exercise. |
