Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Year 2000 Problem: Ethical Implications

  • Published:
Information Systems Frontiers Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

As the end of 1990s draws ever closer, organizations are “making the dash to the year 2000 finish line.” Unfortunately, this is no small task. Moreover, the year 2000 concerns of many organizations will not end on January 1, 2000. Systems failures will inevitably occur, and experts predict that the year 2000 (Y2K) problem will lead to numerous lawsuits costing enterprises vast sums of money. With the rise of litigation, it is likely that ethical questions will also be raised about organizations' handling of their year 2000 problems. Among the relevant ethical issues that will be considered is did system developers and their organizations have an ethical obligation to address the year 2000 problem? This question is of great importance whether the developers work for in-house information systems (IS) departments or for software and hardware vendor organizations. This paper takes a detailed look at this issue. This paper also focuses special attention on a typology of factors, derived from models of ethical decision making, that have served to inhibit or facilitate organizational responses to the year 2000 problem. The goal of this analysis is to recognize and remove the obstacles that remain to an effective Y2K response, so that organizations can not only become year-2000-ready, but also become better prepared to ethically, technically, and effectively manage their information assets. In so doing, organizations will be pursuing the prudent, ethical course of action that minimizes their legal exposure, and protects the long-term interests of their stakeholders.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • About AITP. (Author Unknown). Association of Information Technology. Available at http://ww.w.itaaorg, Accessed February 25, 1997.

  • Aisenberg, Michael. Year 2000 Regulatory and Legislative Update. Washington, D.C: Galland, Kharasch, & Garfinkle, P.C. 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, Ronald E, Deborah G Johnson, Donald Gotterbarn, Judith Perrolle. Using the New ACM Code of Ethics in Decision Making. Communications of the ACM 1993;36.2 (February):98–107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Associated Press Wire Service. Computer Goof Sends Man, 105, to School. The Saginaw News 1998;(November 4):A6.

  • Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). Communications of the ACM 1998;41.11 (November):6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Badaracco, Joseph, Jr. Business Ethics: Roles and Responsibilities. Chicago: Richard D. Irwin, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergen, Kathy. SEC Revises Year 2000 Guidelines to Keep Investors Informed. Available at http://www.chicagotribune.com/ pri...s/9712/12/business/9712120086.html. Accessed December 17, 1997.

  • Bommer, Michael, Clarence Gratto, Jerry Gravander, Mark Tuttle.A Behavioral Model of Ethical and Unethical Decision Making. Journal of Business Ethics 1987;6:265–280.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boone, Louis, E. Quotable Business. New York: Random House, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  • CSPAN2 Broadcast. The Year 2000 Problem Workshop at George Washington University (December 15), 1998.

  • Caldwell, Bruce. States Lag on Y2K Efforts. Information Week 1998;(December 14). Available at http://www.informationweek.com/713/13iuy2k.htm. Accessed December 17, 1998.

  • Century Date Program News. Y2K Goes to Court. 1997;8.2 (August 18). Available at http://intranet.cib.fcnbd.com/CenturyDate/ CDP%20News/CDPN_8–14–97_y2kcourt.htm. Accessed November 12, 1997.

  • Chandrasekaran, V. As It Clogs Computers, Year 2000 Glitch May Clog Courts. Saginaw News 1998;(May 5):A1, A4 (reprinted from The Washington Post).

  • de Jager, Peter. Dear Mr. Gates. Available at http:// www.year2000.com/archive/gates.html. Accessed December 18, 1997.

  • de Jager, Peter. Take a Reporter to Lunch. Datamation 1996;(January 1):76.

  • de Jager, Peter. An Unreal Question. Available at http:// www.year2000.com/archive/y2kunreal.html. Accessed December 17, 1998.

  • DiDio, Laura. Wall Street to Test Y2K Readiness. Computerworld 1998;(32.6 (February 9):1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ditchburn, Jennifer. Lawyers Posed to Pounce on Millennium Bug.Edmonton Journal Available at http://www.southam.com/edmontonjournal/ computers/102397/stor1.html. Accessed December 18, 1997.

  • Gutterman, Jimmy. Year 2000 Economic Implications. Chicago Tribune 1997;(December 7). Available at http://www.chicagotribune.com/tech./columns/story/0,1048,237_2,00.html. Accessed December 17, 1997.

  • Hamblen, Matt. Government Action on Year 2000 Not Enough. Computerworld 1998;32.22 (June 1):4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton, Kendall, Karen Springen. Beyond the Year 2000 Bug: A New Wave of Lawsuits. Newsweek 1998;(March 23):12.

  • Hoffman, Thomas. Consultant Urges Year 2000 Snitching. Computerworld 1998a;32.3 (February 19):6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, Thomas. SEC Lowers Boom on Y2K Data. Computerworld 1998b;32.43 (October 26):90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, Thomas. California Bill Would Put Cap on Year 2000 Damages. Computerworld 1997;31.50 (December 15):1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Information Technology Association of America (ITAA). ITAA Y2K Survey Finds Failures Already Starting to Occur. Press Release 1998;(March 25). Available at http://www.itaa.org. Accessed November 12, 1998.

  • Jackall, Robert. Moral Mazes: The World of Corporate Managers. New York: Oxford University Press, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, Thomas, M. Ethical Decision Making by Individuals in Organizations: An Issue-Contingent Model. Academy of Management Review 1991;16.2:366–395.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kabler, Phil. State To Seek Immunity against Year 2000 Glitch.West Virginia Gazette Available at http://www.wvgazette.com/ News/WV2000.html. Accessed December 17, 1997.

  • Kappelman, Leon, A. An Open Letter to the President. Year/2000 Journal 1997;(November/December):78.

  • Kappelman, Leon, A. Don't Look To Lawmakers For Year 2000 Relief. Computerworld 1998a;(February 16):37.

  • Kappelman, Leon, A. 2000' Leadership Vacuum. Information Week 1998b;(March 16):147.

  • Kappelman, L, Fent, D, Keeling, Kellie, B, Prybutok, V. Calculating the Cost of Year-2000 Compliance. Communications of the ACM 1998;41.8 (February):30–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kling, Rob. Beyond Outlaws, Hackers, and Pirates: Ethical Issues in the Work of Information and Computer Science Professionals.Computerization and Controversy: Value Conflicts and Social Choices. 2nd ed. Kling, Rob. ed. San Diego: Academic Press, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lester, Will. Benefits Checks Said Safe from Bug. Cincinnati Enquirer 1998;(December 29):A1.

  • MacDonald, Elizabeth. Consultants Shunting Work on Year 2000. The Wall Street Journal 1998;(June 29):B6.

  • Mandel, Michael, J. Zap! How the Year 2000 Bug Will Hurt the Economy. Business Week 1998;(March 2).Available at http://www.businessweek.com/premium/09/ b3567001.htm. Accessed February 20, 1998.

  • Market Rids Itself of Bad Y2K Goods. The Saginaw News 1998;(September 15):D2.

  • Melymuka, Kathleen. Year 2000 Whistleblower Derailed. Computerworld 1998a;32.20 (May 18):3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Melymuka, Kathleen. Y2K Night Sweats. Computerworld 1998b;32.51 (December 21):60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moschella, David. The Year 2000 Question: Where was Al? Computerworld 1998;32.24 (June 15):40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mukherjee, Sougata. Small Business Throws First Volley in Expected War over Year 2000. Houston Business Journal 1997;(December 15). Available at http://www.amcity.com/ houston/stories/121597/smallb5.html. Accessed December 17, 1997.

  • Neumann, Peter, G. Y2K Update. Communications of the ACM 1998;40.9 (September 1998):128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reuters News Wire. Symantec is Sued Over Software. 1998;(February 20).

  • Ross, WD. The Right and the Good. New York: Oxford University Press, 1930.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sawyer, Lawrence, B. Sawyer' Internal Auditing. 3rd. ed.Altamonte Springs, FL: The Institute of Internal Auditors, Inc., 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheier, Robert, L. New Rule Tightens Year 2000 Noose. Computerworld 1996;30.38 (September 16):1,135.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheier, Robert L, Anthes, Gary H, Alter, Allan, E. Year 2000 May Ambush U.S. Military. Computerworld 1996/1997;(December 23/January 1):1, 124.

  • Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Interpretation: Disclosure of Year 2000 Issues and Consequences by Public Companies, Investment Advisers, Investment Companies, and Municipal Securities Issuers. Issued July 1998. Available at http://www.sec.gov/rules/concept/33–7558.htm. Accessed October 24, 1998.

  • Wilson, Tim. Year 2000 Problem Takes a Backseat in Europe.Available at http://www.techweb.com/wire/story/ twb19971202s0005. Accessed December 17, 1997.

  • Y2K Consumer Hot Line Starting. Saginaw News (from Wire Service Reports), 1999;(January 11):A6.

  • Year 2000 Litigation. International Technology Association of America. Available at http://www.itaa.org/govt/y2k/lit.htm. Accessed December 17, 1998.

  • Zuckerman, MJ. Y2K Fears Subsiding, Poll Shows. USA Today 1998/199a;(December 31–January 3):1A.

  • Zuckerman, MJ. Y2K: Minor Glitch or Major Disaster? USA Today 1998/1999b;(December 31–January 3):10A.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Business Administration, University of North Texas, P.O. Box 305249, Denton, Texas, 76203

    Leon A. Kappelman

  2. Business Information Systems Department, College of Business Administration, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, 48858

    James J. Cappel

Authors
  1. Leon A. Kappelman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. James J. Cappel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kappelman, L.A., Cappel, J.J. The Year 2000 Problem: Ethical Implications. Information Systems Frontiers 1, 127–139 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010079820452

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010079820452

Keywords

Search

Navigation