Before and After Studies of the Year 2000 Computer Crisis

Citation

(2000), "Before and After Studies of the Year 2000 Computer Crisis", Kybernetes, Vol. 29 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/k.2000.06729bac.003

Before and After Studies of the Year 2000 Computer Crisis

FOR PARTICIPATION AND INFORMATION

Before and After Studies of the Year 2000 Computer Crisis

A Symposium at the European Meeting on Cybernetics and Systems Research Vienna, Austria - 25-28 April 2000

The year 2000 computer crisis (Y2k) has already produced a wide range of forecasts of what will happen. The high level of uncertainty surrounding the event and its consequences present a unique opportunity to test social science theories, forecasting methods, and action research strategies. In terms of research, Y2k can be seen as an unprecedented opportunity. For the next several months the interconnections within modern society will be revealed as never before. As systems break down, we shall learn what other systems depend on them. Furthermore, those engaged in efforts to increase awareness and to prepare organizations can be asked to describe what they did, why they chose the methods they chose, what they expected to happen, and how their expectations were confirmed or refuted. Papers by authors from different countries can be compared. One hypothesis is that papers by Americans will be pragmatic and action oriented whereas papers by continental Europeans will be more abstract or theoretical.

A symposium on the year 2000 computer crisis will be held as part of the European Meeting on Cybernetics and Systems Research. Papers were required by October 1999 for the April 2000 Conference so that they described what the authors think will happen and why. In April we shall compare predictions with actual outcomes. The discussions will be recorded and revised papers and predictions will be published, probably in the journal Cybernetics and Systems.

For information about the Symposium contact: Stuart Umpleby, Research Program in Social and Organizational Learning, 2033 K Street NW, Suite 230, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA. Tel: 202/994 5219; Fax: 202/994 5225; URL: http://www.gwu.edu/~umpleby

For more information about the conference registration fees, hotel accommodations, etc., see http://www.ai.univie.ac.at/emcsr or sec@ai.univie.ac.at

See also details published in this section in previous issues of Kybernetes.