Summary: Information technology is integral to every facet of postal operations -- from sorting, processing, and distributing the mail; to dealing with customers; accounting for and managing cash flows; communicating with business partners and other government agencies; and modernizing its facilities. The Postal Service has been working hard to address its Year 2000 problems and has recently revamped its management approach that, if successfully implemented, can provide significant support and oversight to its Year 2000 efforts. However, the Service has been running somewhat behind the Office of Management and Budget's schedule for system renovation and must still address major issues to complete system and mail processing equipment correction and testing, ensure the readiness of hundreds of local facilities, and determine the ability of key suppliers and interface partners to be Year 2000 ready. Moreover, the Service needs to complete the "simulation" testing of its business process areas as well as complete the development and testing of its business continuity and contingency plans. These challenges are further exacerbated by the fact that the Service expects a surge in workload beginning in September due to the holiday business rush, which typically requires greater management attention.
